BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns punter Steve Cox has had successful brain surgery and the Browns have picked up Jeff Gossett to replace him for the first four games of the new season.
A Browns spokesman said Dr. Joseph Hahn inserted a shunt, or tube, at the Cleveland Clinic Wednesday to relieve a blockage between Cox's brain and his spinal cord, a condition technically known as hydrocephalus.
'Everything went well ... the prognosis for Steve is that he can work out in two weeks. We expect him back for the Oct. 2, the fifth game of the season, against the Seahawks,' Browns' spokesman Kevin Byrne said.
Cox experienced headaches and blurred vision and the condition worsened during Cleveland's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Raiders Friday night.
He reported the problem to Dr. Lon Castle, associate team physician, and Castle arranged for neurological testing which was completed Monday at the Clinic.
Gossett, 26, fourth best in the American Football Conference last year with a 41.4-yard average last year, was picked up on waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs. He joined the Chiefs in mid-1981 when their regular punter, Bob Grupp, was hurt.
Gossett passed his physical with the Browns Wednesday and was due to begin working out with the team today.
Cox handled both punts and kickoffs for the Browns, but Gossett is strictly a punter. During the absence of Cox, field goal kicker Matt Bahr will do the kicking off.
