BEREA, Ohio — Wide receiver David Patten first opened eyes in the NFL while with the Browns in 2000, a year after the team returned to the NFL.

Patten, a 12-year veteran, might see his career end as a Brown after he became the most significant player released by the team on Saturday.
Patten, who spent a lot of training camp battling injury, and coach Eric Mangini spent time together with the New England Patriots earlier this decade.
Mangini said although Patten didn’t make the team this time out, he wouldn’t rule out a chance that he might be back.
“He’s a special guy and I think that when you look at the things he’s done in the league and the way that he came up and built the career that he built, it’s impressive,” Mangini said.
In his career, Patten has caught 324 passes for 4,715 yards for a 14.6 yard average and 29 touchdowns.
In all, the Browns made 23 roster moves on the day that final cuts were due, leaving them with 52 players, one short of the league’s maximum of 53.
More notable perhaps than Patten’s release is the retention of running back Jamal Lewis.
There had been speculation throughout the league that he was in a precarious situation with the team and could lead the list of cuts.
But that wasn’t the case. Lewis received a multimillion-dollar roster bonus, according to a report earlier this year.
But realistically speaking, cutting the veteran Lewis would be risky, given the lack of depth behind him. Mangini ultimately played down those rumors.
“I think one thing that happens during any transitional time in the league is that there’s always speculation, on a lot of different topics,” he said. “I think that Jamal has a lot to contribute and I’m looking forward to seeing him as we go throughout the season.”
The Browns left themselves in a position to add a player should someone appealing become available through the waiver wire. Although the roster is set for now, there’s little guarantee in the NFL that it will stay that way. Players who were on the bubble before could find themselves gone, but Mangini said the young talent on his roster will get a chance to perform.
“We’re committed to developing the guys we have and getting them better and looking outside to see if there is any possibility to acquire guys who can also help us,” he said.
Another minor surprise came from the release of nine-year veteran defensive back Corey Ivy.
Signed as an unrestricted free agent, Ivy seemed to be expendable courtesy of the way younger players such as rookie Coye Francies, a sixth-round draft choice out of San Jose State, came on.
Also saying goodbye: last year’s fourth-round draft choice Beau Bell, a linebacker out of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
The Browns kept three quarterbacks, four running backs, five wide receivers, three tight ends, eight offensive linemen, six defensive linemen, 10 linebackers, 10 defensive backs and three specialists.
Mangini said the number of linebackers the team needed is dictated by the use of the 3-4 defense and the number of defensive backs relates to their ability to play special teams.
Richard Bartel proved to be the odd man out at the quarterback position, losing out to Brett Ratliff for the third quarterback spot.
However, if Mangini possessed any inkling as to who the starting quarterback will be, he wouldn’t tip his hand.