Canton- Though Browns players have frequent interaction with legendary running back Jim Brown at practices and meetings, the team's rookies saw him in a completely different light Wednesday.

While all 20 of the Browns' rookies - draft picks and free agents - took their annual tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, most couldn't help but notice the fact that Brown, one of the league's most decorated figures and one of the most famous players in the team's history, was shown on almost every wall and in several of the hall's displays.

"Jim Brown talks to us quite often at the practice facility, but I think this talk was different," said wide receiver Paul Hubbard, who spent a considerable amount of time looking at one of Brown's many display cases at the Hall of Fame. "Listening to him talk in this setting meant a little bit more."

Beau Bell, whom the Browns took with their first pick in the fourth round, agreed.

"It was different," Bell said. "This guy has, by a lot of people, been crowned the best player of all time. Whenever we get a chance to listen to him, it's awesome. But I think it really hit us today."

Though he didn't want to take any credit for how attentive the rookies were during their tour, Brown acknowledged that the setting probably made a difference for the players.

"Them being here at the hall is probably a good thing," Brown said. "I think the setting is fantastic and gives them a chance to become educated on what me and a lot of other football players went through."

Before the players toured the Hall of Fame, Brown spoke with the rookies about the difference between players of today and the players of his era. He told them about how players from his time held jobs outside of football because the sport alone didn't necessarily cover each athlete's needs. Citing the vast differences in pay nowadays, he encouraged players to worry more about their playing careers than their paychecks.

Though the Hall of Fame was clearly a sobering experience for most of the Browns rookies, the group managed to get its laughs in, too.

Some chuckled at the sight of an encased football from decades ago that was spherical in shape. Likely somewhat tired of being asked "Did you know" questions by the hall's curators, Bell, a linebacker out of UNLV, turned the tables, trying to stump a Hall of Fame employee with the same sorts of questions.

The Browns were one of four teams that toured the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The NFL champion Giants, Texans and Saints also visited. At one point, when they were crossing through the same exhibit, members of the Browns and Texans greeted each other.

Asked whether he felt the majority of the team was taking the visit seriously, Brian Schaefering, an undrafted defensive lineman, said yes.

"We were already supposed to be out of here, but as you can see, we're still in here watching videos and looking at stuff. I'd say we're all enjoying this."

Of note:

This year marks the first in which each NFL teams' rookies will visit the Hall of Fame, a proposal put forth last year by Michael Irvin and later implemented by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The Browns, though, have been sending their newcomers through the Hall of Fame since 2005 when General Manager Phil Savage joined the organization.

For your information:

The Hall of Fame is open daily throughout the summer from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. For information, call 330-456-8207 or visit profootballhof.com.

Browns sign lineman:

The Browns signed rookie free agent offensive lineman Derrick Morse and waived wide receiver Nate Hughes, linebacker Xavier Mitchell and defensive back Darnell Terrell.

Morse (6-4 , 320) participated in the Browns' rookie minicamp in May on a tryout basis. Morse played at Miami (Fla.) and started every game as a junior and senior.