General manager Phil Savage made it clear yesterday during the Browns charity golf outing in Medina that he is very content with L.J. Shelton at left tackle, which means Verba is no longer needed.

The Browns signed Shelton to a one-year contract Saturday, about a week after the verbose Verba went public with his demands for more money than his contract of $2.95 million for 2005.

''We're hoping a change of scenery will do L.J. some good,'' Savage said. ''We think it's a win-win for both parties. We feel we'll probably need a left tackle at some point in time.

''We feel if he's put into that spot, it will increase his chances for a better contract next year.''

This is clearly a tale of two disgruntled tackles. Shelton's career was going smoothly in Arizona until Dennis Green became head coach in 2004. The 6-6, 325-pounder was a first-round draft choice from Eastern Michigan in 1999. After playing in nine games with seven starts as a rookie he started 61 of the next 64 games, missing the other three with minor injuries.

Shelton fell out of favor with Green last year, lost his starting job to Leonard Davis, started nine games at right tackle and was released last month.

Verba, meanwhile, has been with the Browns since signing as a free agent from Green bay in 2001. He bounced back from a torn biceps injury in 2003 to start every game last season, but stories of his off-the-field conduct have embarrassed the Browns organization. A story in Scene Magazine graphically described a sordid weekend party at his home, though the story did not describe him as a participant.

Verba has not been participating in the Browns passing camp, which is voluntary, and vowed before Shelton was signed to sit out minicamp next week and training camp. He reacted to news of the Shelton signing by saying ''Please cut me now!''

A survey of players during the pairings party Sunday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium for the golf outing did not elicit much sympathy for Verba.

''If I was making almost $3 million I'd be ecstatic,'' said one veteran starter. ''I don't have a problem with a guy trying to get as much money as he can when he's signing, but I can understand why fans get turned off when a player has a contract for $3 million and he says it isn't enough.''

Savage did not reveal exactly when a decision would be made on Verba, but he indicated the situation could be resolved before minicamp begins next Monday.

NHBrowns@sbcglobal.net