Browns release veteran tight end Barnidge

Gary Barnidge, the veteran tight end who was a security blanket for the multitude of Browns quarterbacks in recent years, is released by the team after the drafting of David Njoku in the first round.

The Browns cut tight end Gary Barnidge on April 28, one day after drafting tight end David Njoku in the first round.

Barnidge never saw the ax coming. Soon after the Browns selected Njoku with the 29th pick on April 27, Barnidge tweeted: “Welcome to tight end room @ David_Njoku80 looking forward to getting started.”

Less than 15 hours later, Barnidge sent a classy but far different tweet: “I want to thank the Cleveland Browns for giving me ing forward to seeing the the opportunity and look- change. Time for the next step.”

Barnidge, 31, has been with the Browns since 2013, making him one of the oldtimers on the roster. Only left tackle Joe Thomas, cornerback Joe Haden, inside linebacker Tank Carder and guard John Greco have been on the team longer.

It doesn’t put any points on the scoreboard, but Barnidge has a big heart. He co-founded “American Football Without Borders” and along with others travels to foreign countries in the offseason to introduce young boys and girls to football. His group has been to Egypt, Turkey, China and Brazil in the years he has been with the Browns.

Barnidge played five seasons with the Carolina Panthers before signing with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent in the only season Rob Chudzinski was head coach in Cleveland. Chudzinski had been the Panthers’ offensive coordinator.

Barnidge caught 13 catches in 2013 and 2014, and then in 2015 caught 79 passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. He caught 55 passes for 612 yards and two touchdowns last year.

His breakout 2015 season earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and a three-year $12.3 million contract set to expire after 2018. He was due $2.75 million in 2017.

Seth DeValve, a rookie last year, Njoku and Randall Telfer make up the tight ends on the Browns roster.

DeValve caught 10 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns last year.

Njoku caught 64 passes for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns in two years at Miami of Florida while starting nine of 26 games.

Delfer, primarily a blocker, caught two passes last season.

NEWS‑HERALD FILE Gary Barnidge tries to break through the Cowboys’ defense during the 35‑10 loss to Dallas on Nov. 6.