Browns awarded four players via waivers, add five to practice squad
BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns on Sunday were awarded four players via waivers. The team acquired WR LaRon Byrd (Dallas), OL Caylin Hauptmann (Seattle), OL Ryan Seymour (San Francisco) and RB Glenn Winston (San Francisco). The Browns also signed OL James Brown, DL Jacobbi McDaniel, TE Emmanuel Ogbuehi, LB Keith Pough and LB Justin Staples to the practice squad. General Manager Ray Farmer made the announcement.
In addition, the club waived OL Karim Barton, WR Charles Johnson and OL Martin Wallace and terminated the contract of QB Rex Grossman.
Byrd is 6-4, 220 pounds and in his third NFL season out of Miami. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Arizona in 2012, Byrd spent two seasons (2012-13) with Cardinals, appearing in four games. He recorded one reception for eight yards and two special-teams tackles. He caught seven passes for 103 yards with a touchdown for Dallas during the 2014 preseason. He appeared in 51 games at Miami and totaled 106 receptions for 1,254 yards and seven touchdowns. A native of Hahnville, La., Byrd graduated from Hahnville High School.
Hauptmann is 6-3, 300 pounds and in his second NFL season out of Florida International. He re-joins the Browns where he signed his first NFL contract as an undrafted free agent last year. He spent the first two weeks of the season on Cleveland's practice squad before being signed to Seattle's active roster, where he was inactive for 10 games and dressed but did not play in three more. He started all 37 games in which he appeared at Florida International after spending one season at the College of the Canyons. A native of Beverly Hills, Calif., he graduated from Beverly Hills High School.
Seymour is 6-4, 305 pounds and officially in his first NFL season out of Vanderbilt. Originally selected by Seattle in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, Seymour spent the first 14 weeks of his rookie season on the Seahawks' practice squad. He was signed to the 49ers' active roster and was inactive for the final three games. He appeared in 44 games with 35 starts at Vanderbilt, seeing action at tackle, guard and center. A native of Kingsland, Ga., Seymour graduated from Camden County High School.
Winston is 6-2, 220 pounds and in his rookie season out of Northwood University. Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco, Winston led the 49ers in rushing during the preseason with 113 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. Winston began his collegiate career at Michigan State before finishing at Northwood University in Midland, Mich. A native of Detroit, Mich., Winston graduated from Denby Tech High School.
McDaniel, Ogbuehi, Pough and Staples were each in camp with the Browns this year. Brown is entering his third NFL season out of Troy. He spent the past two seasons with the Bears and has appeared in five games.
