Browns re-sign Cundiff

Billy Cundiff signed a one-year deal with the Browns on Thursday. (USATSI)

The Cleveland Browns will be keeping kicker Billy Cundiff around for another season. Cundiff signed a one-year deal with the team on Thursday, the Browns announced. That deal will pay the veteran $1.02 million, according to ESPN.com.

The Browns originally signed Cundiff in September and it was a much needed signing for Cleveland because before Cundiff came on-board, the Browns had zero kickers. That's because during final cuts in late-August, the Browns cut every kicker on their roster, meaning Cleveland had no kickers just eight days before the 2013 regular season opener. That's when Cundiff came in to save the day.

The 33-year-old Cundiff hit 21 of 26 field goals for the Browns in 2013, an 80.8 percent conversion rate that ranked 25th in the league. The 2013 season was Cundiff's second-stint with the Browns, he also spent five games with Cleveland during the 2009 season.

The former Pro Bowler has played for five different teams and seven different coaches in his 10-year career. Mike Pettine will be the third Browns coach Cundiff has played for following Eric Mangini in 2009 and Rob Chudzinski in 2013.

NFL Hot News

Raiders head coach is 'anxious' to see RB Latavius Murray play



Latavius Murray's rookie season ended in August as he was put on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. But the Raiders definitely want to see what they can get out of the 24-year-old, 230-pound back with 4.40 speed."I think Latavius is one of those guys that we're anxious to see be healthy and get out there and play," Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said recently, via ESPN.com. "He's a big back that's got excellent speed and excellent size. He runs tough ... we'll find out a lot more about Latavius Murray as we go through the offseason program and into training camp."The Raiders selected Murray in the sixth round of last year's draft.



Full disclosure: I am biased toward Murray because we share alma maters. But putting that aside, tall, strong, young, fast running backs who can catch passes don't exactly grow on trees. Murray certainly has the basic physical talents to succeed, but how much of an opportunity will he get? Both Rashad Jennings and Darren McFadden are free agents, but Oakland has expressed that it wants Jennings back. And Murray has to prove he can stay on the field; injuries have been a problem for him dating back to his time at UCF.Best-case scenario for Murray in 2014 probably has him as a quality backup who might be asked to take on a bigger workload if injuries take down the player(s) in front of him on the depth chart. He is an intriguing deep sleeper.