The Cleveland Browns are looking to shake up their special teams unit under new head coach Rob Chudzinski, which is why the team brought in free agent punter TJ Conley on a contract.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Baltimore Sun reports that Conley will join the team for OTAs after being the punter for the Jets in 2011. The Browns were looking to add some experience to the roster after Reggie Hodges became an unrestricted free agent after punting for the team in 2012. Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe could also be an option for the Browns, but so far he has not received an offer, although the Oakland Raiders are also an option.
Conley last played with the Vikings before the Browns, but the team is set now with Jeff Locke after drafting him in the fifth round and releasing Kluwe because of his outspokenness on gay equality. Conley was released in April and now he joins the Browns roster since they did not have anyone with punting experience after Hodges became a free agent. Conley was solid with the Jets and had a 42 yard gross average and was 18th in the league in net average, but he was replaced by Robert Malone.
The Browns will need to improve their special teams after getting rid of Josh Cribbs and a solid punter could help the team be successful next season. Kluwe could be another option since he has more experience and he spent eight years as a solid punter with the Vikings and could also be a good choice for the Raiders, who need someone to replace Shane Lechler after they let him go to the Texans.
