Browns History

The Life And Career Of OL Joe Delamielleure (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 5 years ago It is difficult to measure the performance of offensive linemen by statistics. They do not generally gain yards. One way to assess the performance of an offensive lineman is by examining the statistics and achievements of the “skill position” players for whom he blocked. Joe DeLamielleure is one of...

The Life And Career Of Coach Paul Brown (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   It can be said that the Cleveland Browns wouldn’t be where they are today without their original head coach, Paul Brown. This statement has nothing to do with the team’s futility of the past three decades. In this case, we are talking about their literal existence in the NFL. Businessman Arth...

The Life And Career Of Browns C Frank Gatski (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 5 years ago   Offensive plays in football begin with the center snapping the ball. Yet, the center is often ignored by football fans, except when the center does something wrong, such as committing a penalty or botching the snap. A few centers in the NFL have stood out, with such excellent play as to earn...

The Life And Career Of Browns OT Doug Dieken (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 5 years ago   Injuries are an unavoidable aspect of playing in the NFL. In many cases, injuries cause players to miss games and often cause teams to lose games. Doug Dieken did not miss games. For 14 full seasons, Dieken played every regular season and playoff game for the Cleveland Browns. Moreover, from...

The Life And Career Of Browns FB Kevin Mack (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 5 years ago While the position of fullback is generally considered of limited importance in today’s NFL, such was not always the case. The Cleveland Browns have had many great fullbacks, including Marion Motley, Jim Brown, and Kevin Mack. Mack had the qualities associated with being a Pro Bowl fullback. Playing...

The Life And Career Of Browns DL Bill Willis (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 5 years ago   If you heard that an NFL player was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 210 pounds, you would not expect the player to be a lineman. However, Bill Willis showed that a player of such small size (by professional football standards) could be a lineman, and in fact an outstanding lineman, in t...

What Went Wrong For Bill Belichick In Cleveland (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   Mention the name Bill Belichick to any football fan and the response will be mixed. It will either be visceral in noting “Sygate” and/or “Deflategate,” or praiseworthy in noting his six Super Bowl victories. Either way you look at it, since 2000, Belichick has become synonymous with winning....

The Life, Career And Untimely Death Of Browns Safety Eric Turner (Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   Until the 1990s, the Cleveland Browns consistently posted winning records and appeared in the playoffs. However, the 90’s marked the beginning of a decline for the franchise that, unfortunately, has not ended. To date, the Browns have only made the playoffs twice since 1990 (1994, 2002). Clev...

Top 10 Greatest Head Coaches In Cleveland Browns History

Drake Jesse • 5 years ago At last count, the Cleveland Browns franchise has had 18 non-interim head coaches in the franchise’s 74-year history. The franchise started out with one an all-time great, Paul Brown, but the position has slowly declined in quality to the revolving cast of characters we see today. We’re here to go t...

The Life And Career Of "The Toe," Lou Groza (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   The history of the NFL has been a witness to a plethora of colorful characters. Some of those characters were so colorful that they were bequeathed a nickname that fit their outsized personality. The names have been menacing, such as: “The Assassin” (former Raider defensive back Jack Tatum),...

Revisiting The Browns' Last Playoff Appearance In 2003

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Browns have not made the playoffs in nearly two decades. In fact, it’s been over 17 years since Cleveland played beyond the last week of the regular season. 17 years. 6,305 days since The Cleveland Browns were in a playoff game. But whose counting?🤷‍♂️...

Cleveland Browns Retired Numbers (Complete List)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago   During the first 20 years of their existence, the Cleveland Browns were a model franchise. Immediately after forming, the team won four straight All-America Football Conference Championships. After merging with the NFL, the team played in nine championship games from 1950-1965, winning four....

The Life And Career Of Browns TE Ozzie Newsome (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 5 years ago Despite their current slump, the Cleveland Browns are a storied NFL franchise. After 70 plus years of their existence, the Browns have 17 former players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That number is good for the sixth most enshrinees in the league. One of those members is former tight e...

The Life And Career Of Browns DT Jerry Sherk (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago   The years 1970 through 1981 were not “golden” years for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns won only two division titles and lost all three playoff games in which they played during this period. However, over these 12 seasons, one “shining light” for Cleveland was Jerry Sherk. Considered by many...

The Cleveland Browns Replacement Players Of 1987 (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago   With so much uncertainty surrounding sports these days, it can be difficult to keep track of what each league is doing. The pandemic has overturned everything we know about sport seasons, player movement, playoffs, and awarding championships. We should have already crowned NBA and NHL champio...

The Life And Career Of Browns DE Len Ford (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago   In recalling the great Cleveland Browns teams in the NFL from 1950 to 1957 (seven NFL championship games, and three NFL championships, in eight years), Browns fans may focus on the offensive stars on the team, such as Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Marion Motley, and Dante Lavelli. However, Browns f...

The Life And Career Of Browns OL Gene Hickerson (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago Most NFL offensive linemen are not household names. They do not score touchdowns, create turnovers, get sacks, or kick field goals; their recognition during a game usually only comes when they commit a penalty. An exception to this offensive lineman anonymity is Gene Hickerson. For 15 NFL seasons wi...

The Life And Career Of Browns LB Clay Matthews Jr. (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago   To survive as a professional football player you have to be extremely lucky and superbly healthy. It is widely known that the career of an NFL player is three years, at best. That’s why, when an athlete plays a decade or more in the NFL, they are lauded for their durability. For the Browns, C...

The Life And Career Of Browns WR Dante Lavelli (Complete Story)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago   Cleveland Browns fans will praise the receiving abilities of current wide receivers, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. While “OBJ” and Landry obviously are very talented players, they have a long way to go to match the receiving accomplishments of Dante Lavelli for the Browns. Nicknamed bo...

The Wild Life, Sad Death Of Browns DE Lyle Alzado (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago In the history of the NFL there have been many players who’s outsized personality was evident both on and off the field. These players were not only talented and flamboyant on the gridiron, but charismatic and ostentatious away from the game. They could be found wrecking havoc from their respective...

The Tragic Stories of Tom Bloom, Ernie Davis, and Don Fleming

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago "Cleveland Browns Championships" (CC BY 2.0) by EDrost88   Looking back through the lens of history, one could say that the Cleveland Browns were blessed in their early years. After all, how many other NFL clubs can boast that they only had one losing season in two decades? From 1946-1966, the...

The Life And Career Of Browns Star Eric Metcalf (Complete History)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago (Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)  Versatility is a characteristic of many great athletes. In the NFL, versatility is especially valued because a player who can perform multiple tasks can save a team a roster spot to add another player. One of the most versatile Cleveland Browns in the team’s...

The Story Of Browns WR Webster Slaughter (Complete History)

Jimmy Swartz • 6 years ago   There have been many great wide receivers who have played for the Cleveland Browns. Such names as Mac Speedie, Dante Lavelli, Gary Collins, and Paul Warfield bring smiles to the faces of Brown fans, as they recall their achievements. One player who also deserves consideration to be on any lis...

The Cleveland Browns "Kardiac Kids" (Complete History)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago In the early history of the Browns, Cleveland fans were spoiled by very few losing seasons and frequent playoff appearances. From the team’s inaugural season in 1946 through 1969, Cleveland went to the postseason 17 times. During the 70s, they hit a dry spell, only making the postseason in 1971 and...

The Life And Career Of Browns DE Paul Wiggin (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago   The Cleveland Browns teams of the 1950s and 60s were a tough beat for any opponent. Only one season during those two decades (1956) did the team post a losing record. During those early years, the Browns boasted some of the best pro football players in the game. A virtual who's-who of NFL Hal...

The Life And Career Of Browns WR Gary Collins (Complete Story)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago   In the long, storied history of the Cleveland Browns, many colorful and talented athletes have starred at receiver. Beginning with the team's foundation years of the 1940s and 50s, Cleveland boasted Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie. The go-go 1980’s (when the Browns went to three AFC Championshi...

The Tragic Story Of Browns Safety Don Rogers (Complete History)

Ben Donahue • 6 years ago   In late June of 1986, the Cleveland Browns were a month away from the start of their training camp. The ‘86 season promised to be a breakout year for the team. The Browns finished 1985 with a 8-8 record and a close loss to the Miami Dolphins in the playoffs. With their core nucleus of players...