CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Browns signed defensive end Jamal Reynolds to a two-year contract Tuesday.

Reynolds, a first-round pick by Green Bay in 2001, was bothered by a knee injury his first two seasons, was ineffective even when healthy last year and he was deactivated for 11 games. He recorded just 17 tackles and three sacks in 18 games over three seasons.

Green Bay waived Reynolds last week after he failed a physical, which voided a trade to the Indianapolis Colts. By the Browns claiming Reynolds, the Packers will take a salary-cap hit of $633,750 this year and nothing in 2005.

Cleveland coach Butch Davis said the team was intrigued by Reynolds.

“Jamal is a young player with potential and we felt that it would be in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns to give him an opportunity to earn a spot in training camp,” Davis said.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Reynolds played in college at Florida State, where he ranked fourth in career sacks with 231/2.

AP-ES-07-20-04 1914EDT