free-agent-presser.jpeg

Linebacker Karlos Dansby, defensive back Isaiah Trufant and safety Donte Whitner hold up their Browns jerseys after signing with the team as free agents. The three met the media Wednesday in Berea.

(Glenn Moore, cleveland.com)

BEREA, Ohio - Safety Donte Whitner and inside linebacker Karlos Dansby say they believe the Cleveland Browns can become winners right away, and that's why they couldn't wait to sign with the team as free agents.

The Browns introduced Whitner, Dansby and their third free-agent signee, defensive back Isaiah Trufant, Wednesday evening in a press conference.

Whitner, 28, will replace safety T.J. Ward, who signed with Denver. Whitner signed a four-year deal worth $28 million for an average of about $7 million a year.

In Whitner, the Browns are getting a hard-hitting two-time Pro Bowler, one who has made the all-star squad in each of the past two seasons.

Whitner said Wednesday that he expects the Browns to be one of the top defenses in the NFL.

"That's what we believe. That's why we came here," Whitner said. "I believe we can do it. Now we have to come together and put a lot of hard work in.

"Whenever you coming to a team that hasn't won, you have to change the culture in the locker room," Whitner said.

"It starts with being sound fundamentally. . . then it's about being physical each and every play, and that starts with the defensive line, and the linebackers hitting guys and getting them on the ground, and then the safeties and corners and making it so guys don't want to come across the middle."

Dansby, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, also signed a four-year deal with the Browns. His deal is reportedly worth $24 million, including $10 million the first year and $14 million guaranteed.

"I think there's something special about this city," Dansby said. "That's the reason I'm here. I'm going to take this opportunity and maximize it.

"Once I got the call from Coach Pettine, I said, 'I'm on my way.'

Dansby, 32, replaces linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, 30, who signed last week with the Colts. Dansby is two years older than Jackson, but is coming off the best season of his career, by far. If he plays anywhere close to last year, he'll provide new coach Mike Pettine with a formidable playmaker up the middle.

"He's got a strong reputation around here," Dansby said of Jackson. "I'm just coming in trying to do my part. . . I'm coming on a mission, and that's to win. That's all I know how to do is win.

". . . I think I might double my output here. . . I think it's one of the better schemes in the NFL. I'm on a mission to be the best player in the league. That's the mission I was on last season, and I came real close. In the toughest division in the NFL, if you can dominate, that says a lot about you. . . that you're a special player."

In 2013, Dansby led the Cardinals with 122 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions -- including two returned for touchdowns -- 19 passes defensed and 12 tackles for a loss. He broke up more passes than cornerbacks Jerraud Powers (18) and Patrick Peterson (13). He also had 50 more tackles than anyone else on the team.

A second-team All-Pro last year, Dansby set his sights on being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. It didn't happen, but he had a monster year nonetheless.

On Wednesday, Dansby explained his mentality when he plays.

"Just have to try to raise the play of the guys around me. That's what I've been able to do all during my career . . . If I'm able to do that, I'll have a lot of success as well," Dansby said.

"Last year was my best in the NFL by far.. . . Here, I feel like it's going to be the same type of situation. We've got the hard hitting on the back end. . . We keep adding pieces and pieces, and we're going to do something special this season.

"I didn't have any choice. I had to come (to Cleveland)."

Dansby, an 11th-year pro, spent his first six years in Arizona after being a second-round pick in 2004 out of Auburn, and helped the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2008. In 2010, he left to sign a 5-year, $43 million contract with the Dolphins, including $22 million guaranteed. At the time, it was the highest contract ever for an inside linebacker. But the Dolphins cut him after the 2012 season -- and he signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals worth $2.25 million.

He parlayed that homecoming into a blockbuster deal with the Browns -- $14 million more guaranteed for a total of $36 million guaranteed since 2010 -- by playing out of his mind last season.

Trufant is a former New York Jets cornerback and special teams veteran who is reuniting with Pettine. He received a two-year, $1.54 million deal that includes $1 million guaranteed, according to USA Today.

Trufant has played 193 snaps in the past two seasons – and has contributed regularly on special teams since joining the Jets in 2010. Last season, he registered 20 tackles and 13 more in special teams.

Pettine is familiar with Trufant's game serving as the Jets' defensive coordinator from 2009-2012.

"The scheme will benefit what I do with my speed and quickness," Trufant said Wednesday. "Pettine is a great coach and I'm excited."

- Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Tom Reed contributed to this report.