Browns give Johnson new deal

CLEVELAND, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Star wide receiver Kevin Johnson, who reportedly had been given permission to seek employment elsewhere, has signed a new four-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

The deal was announced by team chief executive officer Carmen Policy, and finalized shortly before Saturday night's 24-23 preseason victory over the Detroit Lions. The extension will keep him in Cleveland through 2006.

Johnson's old deal was set to expire after the 2002 season. His agent was in the process of exploring other opportunities, and already begun faxing out letters.

He reportedly will get nearly $13.5 million over the next four years. The contract also included a $3.5 million signing bonus.

"(Starting quarterback) Tim Couch will feel good about (the signing), we feel good about it, Kevin Johnson should feel good about it," Policy said. "The rest of the players are going to breathe a sigh of relief. They don't want to hear about contract negotiations in the locker room. They want to hear about making the playoffs."

Even though he was looking, he never wanted to leave Cleveland or the camaraderie with Couch.

"This is where I belong,'' Johnson said. "We all did a good job trying to handle it professionally. I spoke to some guys on the team (and) that helped. Jamir's situation had a big deal to do with it. My relationship with Couch had a lot to do with it."

He was speaking of linebacker Jamir Miller, the heart and soul of the Browns' defense, who was lost for the season last week after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the win over Minnesota.

"I talked to Jamir while he was in the hospital," Johnson said. "Seeing what he's going through put a lot of things in perspective for me."

Couch also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since day one, Kevin has been my go-to guy," said Couch. "It is just great to be together for the long haul. I'm happy to get it over with. It was almost crazy to think they were really going to get rid of him."

"We're both a very important part of this and I didn't want to leave at a time like this," Johnson said. "Money is important, but not as important as starting something and trying to finish it."

Johnson, drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 1999 draft, 32nd overall, has been the club's leading receiver in each of the past three seasons. He has career totals of 207 receptions for 2,752 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The 5-11, 195-pounder, a former second-round pick from Syracuse, has not missed a regular season contest in his three-year NFL career. Last season, he caught 84 passes for 1,097 yards and nine scores.