(ADDING INFORMATION)

*VP Dwight Clark leaves Niners and joins the Browns*
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CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- In a move that has been rumored for
months, Dwight Clark today left the San Francisco 49ers to
rejoin his former boss Carmen Policy with the Cleveland Browns. 

Clark, a member of the 49ers' front office for the past decade,
today was named as vice president and director of football
operations of the Browns at an afternoon news conference. 

"Dwight Clark is among the finest executives in the National
Football League today," said Policy, the Browns' president and
chief executive officer. "I had the pleasure of working with him
during my time as president of the 49ers and enjoyed my role as
a mentor and friend.  We are indeed fortunate to be able to
bring him onto our team." 

Various reports claimed that the Clark hiring was delayed after
49ers interim team president Larry Thrailkill met with NFL
commissioner Paul Tagliabue and claimed that the Browns violated
anti-tampering rules by talking to Clark.  It is believed the
Niners allowed Clark to take the Browns job with the
understanding that Cleveland will not hire any San Francisco
front office employees through the 1999 season. 

Clark openly expressed his disappointment when Policy left the
49ers in July due to a strained relationship with embattled
owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.  After Policy officially resigned in
July to join an ownership group seeking to buy the Browns, Clark
said the 49ers were losing "the Jerry Rice of our front office."

Policy became a minority partner of the group headed by
billionaire Al Lerner, which was awarded the franchise by the
NFL in September. Cleveland will join the NFL next season. 

"I look forward to teaming up with Carmen again as we put
together a team that will make both the people of Cleveland and
Al Lerner proud," said Clark.  "We will apply the same high
standards that helped the 49ers achieve five Super Bowl
championships, with the ultimate goal of returning the glory of
the Cleveland Browns." 

Clark will be in charge of all aspects of the Browns' football
operations, including managing and implementing the
organizational structure.  He will oversee all areas of pro and
college personnel, including contract negotiations and salary
cap considerations.  Clark will also assist Policy and Lerner in
the process of interviewing and selecting their first head
coach. 

Meanwhile, the Niners may name former front office executive
John McVay to replace Clark. 

The 41-year-old Clark was one of the finest receivers in Niners
history and is best known for making "The Catch" in the 1981 NFC
Championship Game against Dallas.  Clark leaped in the back of
the end zone to catch a pass from Joe Montana to give the 49ers
a 28-27 win and their first-ever trip to the Super Bowl. He was
a member of San Francisco's championship teams in 1981 and 1984.

For the past four years, Clark was the Niners vice president and
director of football operations.  In that capacity, he was
reponsible for scouting, player personnel, contract negotiations
and salary cap management.  Previously, he served as coordinator
of football operations and player personnel, executive
administrative assistant and marketing consultant. 

In 1997, Clark was responsible for the signing of free agents
Garrison Hearst and Kevin Gogan.  Hearst rushed for more than
1,000 yards last season and Gogan was named to the Pro Bowl.
This year, Clark was instrumental in the signing of younger free
agents Gabe Wilkins, Winfred Tubbs, Antonio Langham and Irv
Smith. 

A 10th-round pick in 1979, Clark played nine years with the
49ers and retired as the team's all-time leader with 506 catches
for 6,750 yards and 48 touchdowns.  All records have since been
shattered by Rice. 

The 49ers' front office has been in transition since last
December, when DeBartolo surrendered control of the team to his
sister, Marie Denise DeBartolo York, after he was targeted in
the federal investigation over a gambling license he obtained in
Louisiana.  DeBartolo pleaded guilty to a felony in a federal
extortion probe involving former Louisiana governor Edwin
Edwards.  He avoided prison under the plea agreement, but was
placed on probation and fined a total of $1 million in
penalties.