Verba on high road on way out of Berea
Friday, June 10, 2005
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
Left tackle Ross Verba walked into the Browns' facility on Thursday morning, returned a bonus check for $465,000, said goodbye to his teammates and was promptly released.
Before he left, he even got a chance to wish good luck to his replacement, L.J. Shelton, who was introduced Thursday afternoon as the Browns' new starting left tackle.
Talk about not letting the door hit you on the way out.
"The deed is done," said Verba. "Now I'm free to sign with any team. It's over."
Verba, 31, is the top offensive tackle on the open market and is free to sign with anyone. He said his agent, Tom Condon, told him that 10 teams have already called to express interest. He wouldn't reveal which ones, but did name a few he'd like to play for.
"I'm interested mostly in the teams that need tackles," he said. "I'd like to play for San Diego, Houston, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, someone like that."
He said he'll start making visits next week. But those with little cash to spare need not apply.
"I'm telling teams, 'If you're not willing to give me a big multiyear contract, don't even bring me in," he said.
How big? "$35 million," said Verba. "If I don't get what I want, I'll walk away from the game and hold my head up high."
He said his teammates were disappointed to see him go.
"They can't believe I'm walking away from $2.9 million a year and giving back a bonus of $465,000," said Verba. "But I told them, 'Don't let the game control you. You control the game.' I know not everyone is in a position to do what I'm doing, but I've been a smart businessman."
In a statement released by the Browns, General Manager Phil Savage said: "We felt this decision was in the best interest of both the Browns and Ross. With the return of Ryan Tucker, Jeff Faine and Melvin Fowler, and the addition of free agents Joe Andruzzi, Cosey Coleman, L.J. Shelton and Marcus Spears, we're excited and confident in our offensive line."
Verba and Shelton both wished each other well after Browns passing camp Thursday.
"I met L.J. in Arizona when I visited there as a free agent," said Verba. "I wished him the best and I think he'll do fine."
"I wished [Verba] the best of luck in whatever he's doing," said Shelton. "I hope it works out for him."
Shelton and Spears were introduced to the media Thursday after practice. Shelton, signed as a free agent from the Cardinals, worked all week as the starting left tackle and Spears, signed as a free agent from Houston, has worked mostly at right guard behind Coleman.
Shelton (6-6, 325) is excited to return to the starting left tackle job he lost under coach Dennis Green in Arizona last season. Shelton was coming off ankle and elbow surgery heading into minicamp last season and was replaced by fellow first-round pick Leonard Davis.
He won the right tackle job in October and made nine starts before finishing the season on injured reserve with a sprained knee.
"I came here because I wanted to play left tackle, but also to be part of a new regime," said Shelton. "I wanted to be part of the changes instead of being looked upon as one of the things that you have to change."
Shelton, 29, who started 77 games for the Cardinals, said he thinks he's still the premier left tackle that held down that spot for four years in Arizona.
"I do believe so," said Shelton.
Asked if the line won't miss a beat with him plugged into Verba's spot, he said: "I hope so. We all have to work together though. It's not all up to me. It's a matter of me getting on the same page with the other guys."
Shelton is the son of former Cavaliers forward Lonnie Shelton. When Lonnie Shelton was playing for the Cavs from 1983-86, L.J. was living with his mom in Seattle, where his dad was an All-Star for the SuperSonics and helped that team win an NBA championship in 1978.
A year after his dad's Cavs career ended, Shelton came to live in Cleveland with his mom, who remarried a man from Broadview Heights. "I liked the Browns when I was living here," he said. "I was into football at an early age. It's the tradition more than anything, beyond my father playing here. It's kind of a neat situation to be in the same city your dad played in."
Shelton said he has enjoyed his first week as the Browns' starting left tackle.
"The [linemen] are all guys with experience and they can play and there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to succeed with this group of guys," Shelton said.
