Browns have released OG Joe Andruzzi, a veteran who has held down the Browns left guard spot for the past two seasons.
Andruzzi, who as signed along with RG Cosey Coleman prior to the 2005 season, is an eleven-year NFL veteran who came into the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Packers from Southern Connecticut State.
Joe was a great blood and guts blue collar guy but as a Browns fan I'm thinking this move is a way to placate Shaffer and his ranting to be traded while getting Joe Thomas on the field but in the less critical role Left Guard.
Now, the way I see it, Shaffer stays as the Left Tackle and Thomas gets to start at Left Guard - Andruzzi's position - and gains valuable experience while getting a feel for the speed of the game at the NFL level. Plus it also dumps Andruzzi's salary which I'm sure would have been pretty high since this would have been his 3rd year in Cleveland.
This move hopefully will stop Shaffer from pushing for a trade by giving him the opportunity to prove he is better on our revamped offensive line than he showed last year. It's a win/win because if he does play better he'll have a much greater trade value next year when Joe Thomas takes over at LT.