P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Terrell Owens shops himself around; Browns sign Asante

Terrell Owens has pitched himself every way but on eBay.

Terrell Owens, who has sunk enough ships to join the Torpedo Union (Local No. 81), has offered his services to former Browns coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots while wideout Wes Welker recovers from knee and shoulder surgery.

Owens, who spent last year with the Buffalo Bills, and apparently didn't win the hearts and souls of Bills fans and bosses, is shopping himself around the league.

But it's a pretty good bet that he didn't endear himself to Clevelanders in his choice of words in publicly pitching himself to the Patriots management.

"I'm like LeBron (James)," Owens told Boston radio station WJMN. "I can go there and take less of a role, take less money and put everything aside and make it work."

Nate Davis, blogging for USA Today, isn't so sure it's going to work. The Pats have already signed veteran Torry Holt, but Davis noted that second-year receiver Julian Edelman, from Kent State, is most likely to fill in for Welker until he recovers.

A better idea
Cleveland native and Browns fan Brian Tracy, who writes for the Washington Post, has another locale for which Owens may be well suited. Let's let him tell it:

I am a Cleveland Browns fan. This an open letter to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hate you. Please sign Terrell Owens.

I'll admit to some selfishness in my recommendation. As the summer of LeBron (James) has caused this Cleveland native to start with thirst at a bottle of Drano as if it was called Drano Beer, I am begging the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign Terrell Owens.

So Pittsburgh Steelers, have you you ever seen T.O. do pushups in his driveway? Those are Hall of Fame pushups. Although there are rumors that he has resorted to hydraulic lifts for the pushups and to Joan Rivers' plastic surgeon for the muscles, you must remember one important fact: you are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

T.O. will be a distraction from Ben Roethlisberger's problems.

. . . Look, Pittsburgh Steelers -- I know that you need a distraction. I am a nice neighbor who wishes you ill yet feels your pain in being forced to cheer for a creep (hello Albert Belle), so let me cut to the chase - T.O. at the end of his career may be the perfect citizen. That's a disaster for you, so you can cut him as soon as he lets go of his walker.

The better-case scenario is that he is exactly the lunatic you are looking for. In which case, you put him in front of a microphone whenever you can. And make him talk about your quarterback three times a week.

From The Plain Dealer
Browns beat writer Tony Grossi reported that the team has signed fifth-round pick Larry Asante to a contract that will pay him $1.96 million over four years.

Asante joins defensive lineman Clifton Geathers and receiver Carlton Mitchell as rookie draft choices under contract. Geathers and Mitchell both were taken in the sixth round.

Still unsigned are cornerback Joe Haden (first round), safety T.J. Ward (second), running back Montario Hardesty (second), quarterback Colt McCoy (third) and guard Shaun Lauvao (third).