April 18, 2000

Memphis, TN - The University of Memphis, which did not have a player drafted in this weekend's NFL draft, had three football players sign free agents contracts on Monday. Defensive end Tramont Lawless signed with the Cleveland Browns, Reginald Howard signed with the Carolina Panthers and Ken Coutain inked with the Green Bay Packers. Lawless, who set a new career record for quarterback sacks with 21, is the first Tiger with the Cleveland Browns organization since David Brandon in 1992-93. Coutain will join Memphis' Mike McKenzie who started for Green Bay last season as a rookie and was named to John Madden's NFL All-Rookie Team in 1999. Howard, who suffered a broken neck in last year's UAB game but has fully recovered, passed all physical examinations by the league and has signed with the Carolina Panthers. He is the first Tiger player ever with that organization.