BEREA, Ohio - The Browns continue to add veteran players as they head to training camp. The most recent addition is defensive back Aaron Berry, who comes to the Browns with an injury history and a checkered past.
Berry (5-9, 190) has played for the Lions and the Jets with four starts in 19 games. Berry played with the Jets when Mike Pettine was the defensive coordinator there. He missed all of the 2013 season with a torn ACL injury suffered during the second day of training camp last season after playing in seven games in 2012. Berry has 28 tackles with 12 passes broken up and an interception in his career.
GM Ray Farmer feels Berry is a player that can help the Browns secondary.
"Aaron Berry gives us both depth and competition at corner, and has the potential to upgrade our kicking game," Farmer said in the team's release. "He's tough and relentless and his strength prior to his injury was man coverage."
Berry has been plagued with injuries and legal troubles in his NFL tenure. He has finished three of the four seasons he played on injured reserve
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Berry, 25, was in line to start for the Lions at cornerback in 2012 before he was suspended for three games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy for being arrested twice within 30 days between June 26, 2012 and July 21, 2012. Berry received a DUI on June 26 and then was charged with assault for pointing a loaded weapon at three individuals on July 21.
Berry issued a statement at the time that said, "Words cannot describe how embarrassed I am right now."
However, Farmer said he is willing to give Berry another opportunity.
"He's also accountable for his past, which is well-documented," Farmer said. "We recognize that he's had missteps, as does he. Before and after that adverse period in his life, members of our coaching staff and players in our locker room worked with Aaron.
"From a communication standpoint, there's a degree of comfort we have with him, and a degree of comfort he'll have with the Browns. He has a chance to earn the opportunity to contribute to any success we'll have this fall."
Berry was originally an undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh, who signed with the Lions.
