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Jereme Perry comes ‘home’
Dayton-based agent Ron Todd got a call Wednesday afternoon from Cleveland Browns executive Tripp McCracken, the guy who negotiates contracts and manages the salary cap.
“And while I’m on the phone with the Browns, the Kansas City Chiefs call!” Todd said.
Yes, a tug-of-war over free agent defensive back Jereme Perry, Todd’s client, was about to unfold.
But Todd said “yes” to the Browns before even dithering much with the Chiefs. Why? Because he knew Cleveland was where Perry — who spent the 2006 season with the Browns — wanted to be and felt he needed to be.
And that’s where he will be, at least for now, replacing cornerback Kenny Wright, the recently arrested nine-year veteran who was released on Wednesday.
In Perry, the Browns welcome back a player with top-end speed who they know can contribute on special teams and, given the state of their secondary, might even find himself with a greater role depending on how things shake out in training camp.
With Kenny Wright gone, Perry, believe it or not, becomes the second-most experienced cornerback on the roster behind Daven Holly, who, like Perry, wasn’t drafted.
Recently released by the Miami Dolphins, Perry had worked out for the Chiefs over the weekend.
“He wanted to be a Brown bad,” Todd said. “He’s happy to be there. He’s happy to be home.”
Perry’s two older brothers live in Columbus, including the Rev. James Perry, who played at Central State in the mid-1990s.
“It all worked out for the best,” Todd said. “Rev. Perry said it was destiny. Everything lined up.
“Jereme knows the whole defense, man. He’d be one of the corners who can start for them right away if they needed him to. How many guys on the street know the defense? He’s the only one.”
Perry, who can also play safety, was one of the Browns’ final cuts last summer.
“They kept his locker for eight weeks last year while he was still visiting teams,” Todd said. “Everybody thought he was coming back.”
Wednesday, he finally did.
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By Professor
May 16, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Really am enjoying how you are linking Dayton people to the Browns’ activities. Keep up the detailed reporting.