Browns look to the future, add Peek

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Browns look to the future, add Peek

Sunday, March 04, 2007Tony Grossi

Plain Dealer Reporter

The addition of linebacker Antwan Peek by the Browns on Saturday is a sign of the rising influence of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on the makeup of the team.

Peek, a Cincinnati native, played the past four years with the Houston Texans. Grantham was defensive line coach during Peek's first two seasons in Houston.

Peek fell off the map last year when the Texans switched to a 4-3 defensive system. He had one sack and 13 tackles in 11 games. Peek, 6-3, had trouble keeping weight on. He finished the season at 238 pounds, much too light to play end in a 4-3.

But as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense employed here, the Browns are hoping to exploit Peek's potential as a pass rusher. He had six sacks with Houston in 2005, his best year. Overall with the Texans, Peek had 10 sacks in 51 career games.

"He has a past association with Todd Grantham, he fits the 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker and we feel he will help our pass rush," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said in a statement.

At the very least, Peek's addition gives the Browns a set of fresh legs at the outside linebacker spot opposite 2006 sack leader Kamerion Wimbley.

The Browns were tied for 28th with 28 sacks last season - eight below the NFL average. Wimbley had 11, and nobody else had as many as five.

Last year, linebacker Willie McGinest missed one game with a calf injury and another with an ankle injury. He also missed most of the preseason recovering from elbow surgery.

McGinest had four sacks and 67 tackles in his first season with the Browns. The sacks were his lowest total in eight seasons. At 36, McGinest will embark on his 14th NFL season in 2007.

Peek was a third-round draft pick of Houston in 2003 out of Cincinnati.

He is the second free agent signed by the Browns this weekend. They signed left guard Eric Steinbach on Friday and also re-signed center Hank Fraley.