The Cleveland Browns signed veteran offensive lineman Artis Hicks on Sunday night, capping off a day in which they added four players off waivers before their first regular season game. Of all four of those signings though, the signing of Hicks might be the most significant one in the immediate future.
Hicks entered the league in 2002 as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (Tom Heckert connection). Hicks played with the Eagles for four seasons and was a starter in two of them. He then spent four years with the Minnesota Vikings, mostly as a backup, but he did make quite a few starts too. Last year, he played for the Washington Redskins and started ten games.
Hicks has experience at left guard and is a candidate to replace Jason Pinkston as the opening day starter against the Cincinnati Bengals. Granted, Pinkston will probably still get the start, but you could almost view this as the team adding Floyd Womack version 2.0. If he needs to start temporarily, he can. If he doesn't, then you at least have a somewhat reliable backup on the roster.
To make room for Hicks, the Browns waived offensive guard Pat Murray.