Old School Joins New School...

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Paul Warfield Joins Browns' Front Office

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio - Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul
Warfield has caught on again with the Cleveland
Browns (news). Warfield, who had two stints with
the Browns (1964-69 and 1976-77) as a player, has
rejoined the team as a scout and career planning
consultant.




The 61-year-old's responsibilities will include
scouting college players, evaluating talent for
the NFL draft and special projects. Warfield
worked in Cleveland's front office as player
relations director from 1985-87.


"It's nice to get back with the organization
again," Warfield said. "I was here 40 years ago
for my first training camp and now I want to help
the Browns get back to a championship level of
play."


Warfield's addition should help the Browns
strengthen their relationship with former
Cleveland players, who have felt slighted by team
management since the club returned as an
expansion team in 1999.


Owner Randy Lerner and coach Butch Davis have
been trying to smooth things out between the new
and old Browns. During the offseason, Davis
invited several alumni members back for a meeting
that was well received by Cleveland's former
players.


"There has been a lot of conversation with Randy
and myself as far as reconnecting the Browns'
organization with the community, the alumni and
the past," Davis said. "He (Warfield) was an
enormously charismatic player here, and NFL
legend. He's a classy individual."


Warfield, who played at Ohio State, was drafted
by the Browns in 1964 - the last time the team
won an NFL title. As a rookie, he caught 52
passes for 920 yards and nine TDs.


The Browns will celebrate the 40th anniversary of
the '64 team's championship with a special VIP
event at Severance Hall on Sept. 10. The club
also has special events planned for pregame and
during halftime of the Sept. 12 opener against
Baltimore.


Warfield was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall
of Fame in 1983.