September 17, 2008 Andra Davis will continue to split time at inside linebacker with Leon Williams, who has made quite an impression on the coaching staff according to clevelandbrowns.com. The move comes to allow Davis to focus more on special teams.
Our View:The move lowers Davis' IDP value and if you can find a replacement, now would be a good time to grab him.
July 29, 2008 In a surprising move, linebacker Andra Davis has accepted a substantial paycut for this season and has learned that this will be his last year in Cleveland, according to SLAM Sports.
Our View:Davis told reporters that he harbors no ill will about the decision, having grown up in poverty and realizing his good fortune regardless of these decisions. Davis has agreed to drop his base salary from $3 million to $1.675 million for 2008, also dropping two seasons off the five-year deal originally signed in 2005. Last season was a rare slip for Davis, working as a perennial Pro-Bowl candidate before an ankle injury limited his productivity in 2007. He admits the decision to stay is out of loyalty he hopes will be repaid if he performs this season. The Browns are on the rise and Davis wants to finish his career with this up-and-coming franchise, thus he has accepted these terms and is moving forward.
July 24, 2008 It has been decided that Andra Davis will wear the defensive headset for the Browns, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Our View:So Davis now looks to be an every-down player again, and the starter alongside D'Qwell Jackson on the inside. But he could still lose the job if he struggles through training camp and the preseason.
May 9, 2008 Heading into next week's opening of spring practice, it appears D'Qwell Jackson is locked in at one starting inside linebacker job, with veteran Andra Davis and third-year player Leon Williams sharing the other spot, according to the Canton Repository.
Our View:This report makes it sound like Jackson is the only Cleveland inside linebacker to target in IDP leagues. Davis and Williams will battle in training camp, but they shared time last year, and it appears the rotation could be in full effect again in 2008. It remains to be seen how rookie, Beau Bell, will be mixed in on the inside. General manager Phil Savage has made it clear Bell has a chance to be on the field as a rookie, and not just on special teams. Bell’s deficiencies in pass coverage were exposed during the Browns recent rookie mini-camp, but coaches aren't overly concerned, because it was understood when Bell was drafted in Round 4 that he might be limited to playing on running downs.
March 16, 2008 Andra Davis has had his contract significantly restructured by the Browns, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. His base salary for 2008 has been lowered from $3 million to about $1.7 million, and the final two years of the deal have been nixed. The emergence of Leon Williams and the use of new defensive packages has limited Davis' role in the Browns defense, so the new deal is not surprising.
