BEREA - Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield has caught on again with the Cleveland Browns.

Warfield, who had two stints with the Browns (1964-69 and 1976-77) as a player, has rejoined the team as a scout and career planning consultant.

The 61-year-old's responsibilities will include scouting colleges, evaluating talent for the NFL draft and special projects. Warfield worked in Cleveland's front office as player relations director from 1985-87.

''It's nice to get back with the organization again,'' Warfield said. ''I was here 40 years ago for my first training camp and now I want to help the Browns get back to a championship level of play.''

Warfield's addition should help the Browns strengthen their relationship with former Cleveland players, who have felt slighted by team management since the club returned as an expansion team in 1999.

Owner Randy Lerner and coach Butch Davis have been trying to smooth things out between the new and old Browns. During the offseason, Davis invited several alumni members back for a meeting that was well received by Cleveland's former players.

''There has been a lot of conversation with Randy and myself as far as reconnecting the Browns' organization with the community, the alumni and the past,'' Davis said. ''He (Warfield) was an enormously charismatic player here, and NFL legend. He's a classy individual.''

Warfield, who played at Ohio State, was drafted by the Browns in 1964 - the last time the team won an NFL title. As a rookie, he caught 52 passes for 920 yards and nine TDs.

The Browns will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the '64 team's championship with a special VIP event at Severance Hall on Sept. 10. The club also has special events planned for pregame and during halftime of the Sept. 12 opener against Baltimore.

Warfield was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.