Mickens will not be a Cowboy

austintodallas

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In case anyone cares, looks like Ray Mickens will be playing for Cleveland...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2137238

Updated: Aug. 18, 2005, 9:48 AM ET
Mickens agrees to one-year contract with Browns

Pasquarelli_Len_35.jpg

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Crippled by injuries at cornerback, the Cleveland Browns have reached a contract agreement with veteran free agent Ray Mickens, released last week by the New York Jets after the team added Ty Law to its roster.

Mickens agreed late Wednesday to a one-year contract, the financial details of which were not available. He had been scheduled to earn $1.2 million with the Jets in 2005. It is expected that he will sign the deal Thursday and report to a Browns team in dire need of his services.

Starting left cornerback Daylon McCutcheon has missed all of camp because of recurring headaches. Although he has undergone extensive testing to find the source and seems to be making progress, when he will return full-time to practices remains uncertain. His replacement, third-year veteran Michael Lehan, suffered a hamstring injury in practice on Wednesday and will miss some time.

That left the Browns without a veteran to play opposite Gary Baxter, the excellent all-around cornerback acquired from the Baltimore Ravens in unrestricted free agency this spring. Cleveland officials had already been negotiating with Mickens and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, and were close to an accord anyway. The injury to Lehan accelerated the discussions and the deal was quickly completed.

Mickens, 32, also drew interest from the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.

A nine-year veteran, Mickens has long been regarded as one of the NFL's top "nickel" cornerbacks, but also has starting experience. The former Texas A&M star, who entered the league in 1996 as a third-round draft choice, is coming off a torn left anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for the entire 2004 season. The injury, suffered last spring in a mini-camp, is said to be fully rehabilitated. Although just 5-feet-8, Mickens is a tough defender who plays bigger than his size. In 126 games, Mickens has registered 298 tackles, 11 interceptions, 60 passes defensed and six sacks.
 
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