Browns Put Rison In Pink

Andre Rison has committed to the Cleveland Browns, striking a $17 million, five-year deal that makes him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The newspaper said Rison agreed Wednesday night to a contract paying a signing bonus of $5 million and base salaries of $578,000 in 1995, $2 million in 1996, $2.1 million in 1997, $3.7 million in 1998 and $3.7 million in 1999.

“I’m going to an organization that’s treating me with respect,” Rison said.The Plain Dealer of Cleveland said Rison has placed a call to Houston running back Lorenzo White to try to lure him to Cleveland. Rison and White were teammates at Michigan State.Atlanta defensive tackle Mel Agee, another good friend of Rison and a restricted free agent, has said he would love to play for the Browns.

The Seattle Seahawks, who on Monday lost center Ray Donaldson via free agency to Dallas, signed free agent center Jim Sweeney.

The 6-foot-4, 284-pound Sweeney played his entire 11-season career with the New York Jets. He has played in 166 career games, starting the last 158 in a row.

The Cincinnati Bengals matched the Arizona Cardinals’ four-year, $11 million offer sheet for Carl Pickens, making him the NFL’s third-richest wide receiver.

The deal makes Pickens the secondhighest-paid Bengal in history. Pickens had a team-record 71 catches, which included the NFL’s first streak in four years of four 100-yard games.