CLEVELAND -- Wide receiver Andre' Davis, pushed to the bottom of Cleveland's depth chart, was traded to the New England Patriots by the Browns for an undisclosed draft pick Monday.
For New England, Davis adds a veteran presence to an already deep receiving corps. He arrived at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., yesterday to begin practicing with the Super Bowl champions.
"Whatever I can do, I'm going to make sure that I do it to the best of my ability and make sure that I'm a smart player because I know (Patriots coach) Bill Belichick wants smart players," he said.
Davis had been mentioned in trade talks for several months. He became expendable after the Browns drafted rookie Braylon Edwards, and Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt both emerged during training camp.
Davis also had lost his job as Cleveland's No. 1 kick returner to rookie Joshua Cribbs.
Last week, the Browns gave the 26-year-old Davis and his agent, Kennard McGuire, permission to seek a trade. The Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks also expressed interest.
"All he wanted was an opportunity to go out and utilize the talents he has shown he has," McGuire said. "The Browns were great about giving Andre' a chance to find another place to play."
Davis was selected in the second round (No. 47 overall) of the 2002 draft by former Browns coach Butch Davis, who thought the former Virginia Tech track star's speed would open things up for Cleveland's offense.
However, injuries have slowed Davis' development.
Because of a nagging toe injury, he started only seven games and had 16 receptions for 416 yards and two touchdowns last season. One of those TDs was a 99-yarder from Jeff Garcia, the longest pass play in Browns history.
Brown-bagging it: Cleveland Browns cornerback Gary Baxter did not practice yesterday, two days after sustaining a concussion on a hard hit in the first half of an exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. Also, running back Lee Suggs remained sidelined with a sprained left ankle.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap will not play in the team's preseason game Friday in New Orleans.
The two-time Pro Bowl pick, slowed by ankle and shoulder surgeries, did not participate in any training camp practices, but he will be on the field this week at the team's training facility and could be ready for the Ravens' final preseason contest Sept. 1 against the visiting Washington Redskins.
"It felt good to be out there with the guys," Heap said yesterday afternoon after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. "It's about time to get back into it. I've been working really hard to get my body back healthy and it's about time."
Heap missed nine weeks last season with an ankle injury, but upon his return, he registered 15 of his 27 receptions for the year, as well as all three of his touchdowns.
However, Heap has had to sit on the sidelines this month and watch as the Ravens offense bogged down in losses to Atlanta and Philadelphia. Baltimore has committed 14 penalties and six turnovers in preseason while converting just 28 percent of its third-down situations.
"It's frustrating. It's hard to watch," Heap said. "There were some things that we could have definitely improved on, but there were good things, too. Sometimes, it looks worse than it does."
Quoth the Ravens: Billick reported that cornerback Samari Rolle has tenderness in his knee and his status is undetermined for Friday's game. Center Mike Flynn, who left the Eagles' game with a slight knee injury, is expected back to play the Saints. ... The Ravens' Oct. 2 home game against the New York Jets will be the 300th NFL home game in Baltimore history (including postseason). The Baltimore Colts and Ravens are a combined 168-124-6 in regular and postseason play at home in the city's 41-year NFL history (1950, 1953-83, 1996-present). The Ravens open their 10th regular season with home game number 299 against Indianapolis.
