The Cleveland Browns have signed veteran quarterback Josh McCown, the team announced Friday.

"Josh is your consummate professional," Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer said, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN. "...We are excited to get him and believe he will help continue to move us in the right direction and help us build the type of team that will bring winning football to Cleveland."

McCown agreed to a three-year, $14-million contract with the club, with $6.25 million guaranteed.

It appeared Josh McCown was headed to Buffalo. It took old-school recruiting by #Browns to secure him. Pettine, Haslam, Defilippo did work — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2015

McCown has spent time with a number of teams over the course of his 12-year NFL career, making 11 starts in his lone season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014.

"I just want to serve our team and help everybody in that locker room, do my best to help everybody in the locker room be better at their job and they're going to help me, too. It's a two-way street," McCown said on Friday. "I'm just excited about coming in and being a part of a team."

While the Browns will almost certainly hold a quarterback competition in training camp - giving Johnny Manziel the opportunity to show some much-needed improvement - McCown will be the heavy favorite to earn the starting job going forward.

The 35-year-old threw for 2,206 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this past season before being released in early February.