Not everybody with the Browns is getting contract extensions and big pay raises these days.

The team quietly reduced the contracts of two prominent former starters on defense - linebackers Andra Davis and Willie McGinest. Both players now are part of three-men rotations at their respective positions.

 In December 2005, Davis signed a five-year contract extension for $20 million. That deal included a base salary in 2008 of $3 million, plus a $200,000 roster bonus. The base salaries would rise to $3.75 million in '09 and $4.1 million in 2010.

 But that contract is no more. The latest figures posted on the NFL players union Web site show a base salary this year of $1.675 million for Davis. And the last two years of the deal have been wiped out.

The 44 percent pay cut might have been made up in a signing bonus to rewrite the deal to end after this season.

 Davis, 29, saw his playing time reduced last year because of the emergence of Leon Williams and the use of different defensive packages. His 104 tackles were his lowest total in four years, when he missed five games with an injury.

Davis has the most tenure of any Butch Davis draft choice. He was a fifth-round pick in 2002. Besides him, only long snapper Ryan Pontbriand (2003), tight end Kellen Winslow (2004) and safety Sean Jones (2004) remain of the four Davis drafts from 2001-04.

McGinest could have made as much as $2.9 million this season in the final year of his three-year Browns contract. But that was reduced to $1.9 million after he failed to hit a Pro Bowl incentive. The players union lists McGinest's salary at $900,000 - a 47 percent cut.

McGinest, 36, played in 13 games after having back surgery in the off-season. He made 12 starts in the base defense and found himself actually playing tackle in some sub packages late in the season because of injuries to other players.

Both players have playing-time incentives that could get them back to their original levels. Messages seeking comment from the players' agents were not returned.

More salary info:

Quarterback Derek Anderson's base salaries in his new contract are $950,000 in 2008, $1.45 million in '09 and $7.45 million in 2010, according to union figures.

The union Web site does not include bonuses. Anderson will receive $8 million this year in signing and roster bonuses and has another guaranteed $5 million due in April of '09, plus $1 million in 2010.

Braylon watch:

There has been conjecture that Browns receiver Braylon Edwards switched agents to seek a new contract. That could be an expensive proposition.

The new standard for receivers is a $10 million per year average. That's what Larry Fitzgerald received from the Arizona Cardinals - $40 million over four years. Fitzgerald has made two Pro Bowls. (Edwards has made one.) That deal exceeds the $9 million average Randy Moss received from the New England Patriots over three years.

Draft update:

The Browns currently own the following picks in the April 26-27 draft:

No. 23 in the fourth round, No. 22nd in the fifth round, No. 24 in the sixth round and No. 24 in the seventh round.

The sixth-round pick is Seattle's from the trade of Charlie Frye. The Browns gave up their own sixth-round pick, No. 25, to Philadelphia in 2006 in the trade for Hank Fraley.

The overall number of these selections won't be known until the NFL awards its annual allotment of compensatory picks to teams who suffered free-agent losses the previous year.

Some of those picks may be squeezed into the middle of rounds four through seven, which would lower the Browns' selections even further.

In the past, Browns General Manager Phil Savage has said he ranks about 100 players on his draft board. He'll have to form a second board this year. As it stands, the Browns' first pick would be the 118th selection overall.

Who wants it?

The Bengals' fifth-round draft pick - whomever it turns out to be - is cursed.

The team tried to trade its third- and fifth-rounder to Detroit for Shaun Rogers, but the NFL voided the deal. Then Cincinnati wanted to send its fourth- and fifth-rounders to the Jets for Dewayne Robertson, but the Bengals changed their mind because of concern with Robertson's repaired knee.

Local watch:

Center Alex Stepanovich of Berea High School and Ohio State signed with the Falcons. . . . Guard Jacob Bell of St. Ignatius and Miami (Ohio) signed with the Rams. . . . Receiver Drew Carter of Solon and Ohio State signed with the Raiders.