Browns Digest

Browns Add Special Team Veteran Justin Hardee

Cleveland native Justin Hardee joins the Browns after splitting the first seven years of his career with the Saints and Jets.

Spencer German

Aug 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets cornerback Justin Hardee (34) against
Aug 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets cornerback Justin Hardee (34) against / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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The Browns aren't done adding to the roster as the calendar flips to April.

On Tuesday, the franchise added veteran special teams ace and Cleveland native Justin Hardee, who spent the last three years with the New York Jets. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report Cleveland's latest addition. The team confirmed the signing shortly thereafter.

Hardee is a cornerback by trade but has carved out a prominent role for himself in the NFL as a kickoff and punt coverage guy. The seven-year veteran began his career as an undrafted free agent by the Texans in 2017 but wound up being waived prior to the start of the season and landed with the Saints. He spent four seasons in New Orleans before departing for the Big Apple in 2021. Now, the Glenville High School grad earned an opportunity to return home and play for his hometown team.

On the night the Browns beat the Jets in late December to clinch a playoff berth, Hardee was caught on camera congratulating quarterback Joe Flacco and telling him to "bring my city a ship." While Flacco and the Browns quest for a Lombardi title wound up falling woefully short, Hardee now has a chance to help accomplish that feat himself.

After losing CB Mike Ford to the Texans this offseason, who served an important role on Bubba Ventrone's special teams coverage units in 2023, Hardee fills an important need for Cleveland going into 2024.

Throughout his career Hardee has appeared in 100 games during his stints with the Saints and Jets. He's registered 63 special teams tackles and snared one interception. Last season he played in 11 games for New York and made five special teams tackles.

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Spencer German
SPENCER GERMAN

Spencer German is a contributor to the Northeast Ohio cluster of sites, including Cavs Insider, Cleveland Baseball Insider and most notably Browns Digest. He also works as a fill-in host on Cleveland Sports Radio, 92.3 The Fan, one of the Browns radio affiliate stations in Cleveland. Despite being a Cleveland transplant, Spencer has enjoyed making Northeast Ohio home ever since he attended college locally at John Carroll University, where he graduated in 2013.

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