IRVING, Texas – Former Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin is now a member of the Cleveland Browns, according to the team's official website.
Austin reportedly agreed to terms Thursday with the Browns, who are in need of receiver help, considering the looming suspension of top receiver Josh Gordon.
Cleveland also passed on taking a receiver in the draft. The Browns added Nate Burleson and Andrew Hawkins, but many believed they needed more help at the position, and Cleveland hopes Austin can provide that.
Austin's success will largely be determined by his health, which was the issue in Dallas. The Cowboys designated Austin a post-June 1 cut to free $5.5 million from the salary cap this year, after he was limited to just 11 games and 244 receiving yards in 2013.
The receiver's recurring hamstring issues limited what Austin, who was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2009 and 2010, could do the rest of his tenure in Dallas. Austin caught 81 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009 and 69 passes for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010.
He signed a six-year, $54 million deal with the Cowboys in 2010, but he never reached the 1,000-yard mark again after that 2010 season.
Despite the decline the last few years, Austin will still go down as one of the best undrafted free agents in Cowboys history, defying odds by totaling 301 catches, 4,481 yards and 34 touchdowns during his career in Dallas after landing with the team in 2006. [embedded_ad]
Prior to signing with the Browns, head coach Jason Garrett wouldn't rule out the possibility of Austin returning to the Cowboys, but it was certainly not a given after the selection of fifth-round pick Devin Street. The Cowboys appeared ready to turn the page after watching the receiver fight through injuries every year toward the end of his time in Dallas.
"The economics of his situation really factored into the decision we made with him, coupled with his injuries," Garrett said after the draft. "We'll look at the landscape when we get done. Miles is a guy that we have great respect for as a person and as a player."
After all the post-draft chatter focused on the Cowboys passing on Johnny Manziel, now Tony Romo's former receiving threat could be catching passes from the intriguing quarterback prospect in the near future in Cleveland.
