BEREA, Ohio -- Tight end Gary Barnidge didn't mess around when making it known that he wanted to remain a Brown. He went straight to the boss, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

A few days later, on Thursday, Barnidge received a new three-year contract extension worth a reported $12 million.

"I just wanted to talk to him in person, face to face, and just let him know I'm happy, I wanted to be here and all that stuff,'' said Barnidge, who's playing at a Pro Bowl clip. "I did my research and all that kind of stuff and I'm happy about where we're going to go. I can foresee things are going to happen, we're going to turn things around and I want to be part of that.''

It didn't matter to Barnidge that he may have left some money on the table to stay in Cleveland. If he had hit the market in March, he probably could've made more. For comparison's sake, former Browns Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron signed a two-year deal with Miami worth $15 million, including $12.5 million guaranteed. His average of $7.5 million is much higher than Barnidge's $4 million.

"I was very appreciative that the Browns gave me this opportunity to show what I could do this year and I'm very thankful,'' said Barnidge. "That also went into my decision because I wanted to repay them."

Barnidge, first on the team with 60 catches and seven touchdowns and second with 817 yards, said he didn't receive any assurances from Haslam about the coaching staff or front office in order to stay.

"I didn't really talk to him about that,'' he said. "Mine was more of just I want to be here, I'm looking forward to it and that's all it really was.''

Does he think the turnaround can happen as soon as next season?

"I believe, so, yes,'' he said.

Barnidge, 30, also didn't want the uncertainty of free agency.

"You don't know what's going to happen,'' he said. "You might get more, you might get less. And I wanted to be part of this when we turned things around here. I love the area. The fans are amazing, some of the truest fans. I'm entrenched in the community here in Cleveland and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be fun.''

Knowing how passionate the fans are, Barnidge has an idea of what it will be like when the team starts winning.

"It's going to be amazing,'' he said.

Barnidge, who was also named the Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year last week for his charitable endeavors, also scoffed at the notion that this could be his last contract.

"Remember - as the league keeps going, guys play longer and longer,'' he said. "Age just becomes a number. As long as you can still continue doing what you're doing, I don't think age makes that big a difference. As part of not having the opportunities yet, I don't have the wear and tear on my body yet, so I feel great actually.''

Barnidge's extension was great news to his teammates, who have watched him make some of the most acrobatic catches in the NFL this season, including the "Thighmaster'' between-the-legs TD catch in Baltimore and the one-hand, tip-it-to-himself rolling dive in San Diego to the 1.

"Out of 1 to 10, (his season has been) a 10,'' said receiver Travis Benjamin, who revealed he's also close to receiving an extension. "He's coming in there blocking, catching, incredible catches. He probably leads the league this year in balls you think you can't catch but he sticks that hand up there and he brings it down. I'm just so happy for Gary because me and him are in the same situation with not playing last year and coming in and having breakout seasons, so I'm happy for Gary."

Josh McCown, who was on the throwing end of most of Barnidge's amazing catches, is thrilled to have his buddy around for the next few years.

"I'm just excited,'' he said. "It's a great move for our team and our organization just because of the type of person he is and then the type of player he's been this year. There's not enough good things to say about him because he's done such a good job. He's come in and worked hard and he's been productive. It gets guys excited on the team to know that they do the right thing and make good decisions on and off the field that they can have the opportunity to be rewarded.''

McCown, who played with Barnidge in Carolina, knew he was capable of a breakout year.

"I've always been a big fan of Gary's and thought he could play, but sometimes until you really get an opportunity through circumstance, it doesn't show up,'' said McCown. "He got a chance to be the man and get the balls thrown to him and he produced, so good for him.''

The extension brought some good news to an organization mired in a seven-game losing streak and owners of the worst record in the NFL at 2-10.

"Gary goes about his business every single day sets a great example for all of our players," coach Mike Pettine said in a release. "He's a testament of hard work, professionalism and a team-first mentality. I can't say enough positive things about Gary Barnidge."

Barnidge has played so well this season that fans can't remember if the guy he replaced was Jordan Cameron or Cameron Jordan.

"I tell you, Gary Barnidge is probably one of my most favorite players I've ever coached,'' said offensive coordinator John DeFilippo before the news was official. "He really is. He's the same guy every day. He's productive. He works, he keeps his mouth shut. If you give him a coaching point, he takes it to heart and it shows on the field. And I'll tell you what, if that report is true, then the Cleveland Browns just got better today.''

Barnidge's seven TDs are tied for second-most by a Browns' tight end. Among NFL tight ends, he's third in most statistical categories, but first in third-down receptions. Barnidge is one 100-yard game away from tying the franchise record for most in a season (four, by Milt Morin in 1968). He's two touchdowns away from tying Ozzie Newsome's franchise record of nine.

"In terms of the Baltimore catch and the San Diego catch, you never know if those are going to come about, but I did (know he could do this),'' said DeFilippo. "To say at level, you don't know. I didn't know the players well in a game situation but when I saw Gary and our coaching staff saw Gary, we were like 'this guy's good.' I told him the other day, he's 30 but he doesn't have a lot of tread on the tires. He hasn't played a ton of football because he's been behind some really good players.

A fifth-round pick of the Panthers in 2008, Barnidge was signed by the Browns as an unrestricted free in 2013 upon the recommendation of former coach Rob Chudzinski, who coached him in Carolina. But the Panthers never fully utilized his receiving ability. In fact, his 60 catches, 817 yards and 7 touchdowns are all far more than his seven seasons combined.

Heading into the season, he had 44 catches, 603 yards and three touchdowns.

"(Some outside the organization) don't see me as anything other than a just fill-in guy," Barnidge said after his Thighmaster catch. "But the two teams I've been on have had trust in me. I think people are just (now) seeing things that I can do ...

"I think people underestimate me. I'll take it, I love it. I love being underestimated speed wise because I run weird in some people's eyes."

The Browns were disappointed when Cameron spurned them in free agency, but it worked out in Cleveland's favor. In 12 starts, Cameron has 26 receptions for 306 yards and two TDs. It's costing the Dolphins a king's ransom for those 26 catches.

Barnidge, meanwhile, is in the final year of a three-year deal worth deal worth $3.75 million, including $650,000 guaranteed -- and he has three more catches than three-time Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski.

"Congratulations to Barnidge on his deal,'' said Benjamin. "He deserves it."