The legendary founding football coach of the Cleveland Browns, Paul Brown, continues to stock Canton’s Hall of Fame, long past both his retirement and his passing.
One wonders if any coach in history has placed more of his former athletes into that hallowed hall. Sadly, a great many of them achieved their greatness wearing some one else’s uniform. On that count, there has probably never been anyone affiliated with the sport who permitted other clubs as much HOF-caliber talent, particularly for so little return.
Saturday’s announcement that PB’s fifth-round 1959 draft choice, former Ohio State CB Dick LeBeau, would be entering the Hall further elevates an incredible number of all-time all-timers Brown distributed across the NFL landscape.
Now, this is not mentioned to diminish the achievements of arguably the sport’s premier coaching genius, one that lives on through the Bill Walsh coaching tree, so much as it illustrates that even the greats among us err.
Nonetheless, it is remarkable to contemplate how no one else has put more players into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in some other club’s uniform than the Norwalk native.
Consider how many championships Brown may have cost the club engineered by and named for him through his peculiar personnel decisions. Chicago’s Bears won it all in 1963, PB’s first year not in charge of the Browns, in no small part because they featured at LDE Brown’s 1953 top choice out of Tennessee, Doug Atkins. Atkins was a Brown through ‘54.
Cleveland won it all, of course, in 1964, but was unable to repeat the following season because of Green Bay’s Packers, whose DL included a pair of Brown castoffs now enshrined, DT Henry Jordan (1957-58) and DE Willie Davis (1958-59).
The Browns were left in the cold in 1970, as well, on a number of levels. Not only were they eliminated short of the Super Bowl because of a Minnesota Vikings squad captained by yet another defensive lineman PB cast aside, OSU’s DE Jim Marshall (1960), but those Purple People Eaters were themselves ousted by a cast of Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacked by a Purdue passer born in Alliance, Ohio who wore the Seal Brown and Orange in both 1960 and ‘61, HOF-er Len Dawson, who was seen delivering the Lombardi Trophy to the Saints last evening. (Marshall is not in the Hall, though he’s many times come close and had held the record for most consecutive games started by a non-kicker til Brett Favre came along.)
What is more, 1970 was the very year HOF WR Paul Warfield was dealt by the Browns to Miami, where he had the bulk of his best professional seasons, for the rights to a Purdue passer who did not fare nearly as well as did Dawson, fellow Hall of Famer Bob Griese or present champion Drew Brees, the otherwise forgettable Mike Phipps.
At least Phipps’ rights were eventually turned into HOF TE and current Ravens’ executive Ozzie Newsome.
Yet another future HOF-er, RB/WR Bobby Mitchell (1958-61), was similarly dispatched by the HOF coach and architect, exchanged for the rights to a Syracuse RB named Ernie Davis, the Elmira, NY product who died of leukemia before he would play a single professional down.
In all, Cleveland’s Browns have 16 HOF inductees, a number now sixth among all NFL franchises, trailing the Bears (26), GB (21) and three teams with 18 (Washington, NYG, Pittsburgh).
Aside from his own 1967 election, Brown helped make possible the induction of these 11 he coached: the first-ever Brown, QB Otto Graham (class of 1965), FB/LB Marion Motley (1968), FB Jim Brown (1971), OT/PK Lou Groza (1974), WR Dante Lavelli (1975), DE Len Ford (1976), MG Bill Willis (1977), WRs Mitchell and Warfield (1983), OT Mike McCormack (1984), C Frank Gatski (1985) and OG Gene Hickerson (2007). RB Leroy Kelly (1994), TE Newsome (1999) and OG Joe DeLamielleure (2003) are Cleveland HOF-ers Brown never coached.
Able to add the names of Atkins, Jordan, Davis, Dawson and LeBeau—for what it is worth—and the Browns would trail only Chicago on that all-time list of inductees, 25-21, quite an achievement for an entity that did not commence involvement until 1946.
At any rate, Paul Brown had a gift for recognizing and developing outstanding professional football players. It is simply somewhat regrettable he let so much of it get away, many for which he got little to no return. For that, more than a few distant champions are grateful.
Mark Leonard » Browns » No Comments
The Cleveland Browns today announced that season ticket prices for the 2010 season will not increase.
Season ticket prices for the Browns, which continue to rank among the lowest in the NFL, have not increased in five of the last seven years. In fact, this year prices for select seats will be lower than they were in 2009.
For the first time ever, each Season Ticket Account Holder will have their own Personal Ticket Services Representative. They will also receive in-stadium discounts on items such as concessions and team merchandise, in addition to discounted season parking.
“Having faced the Browns several times in Cleveland as a head coach, I know what a home field advantage our stadium can provide,” said Browns President Mike Holmgren. “We’re excited about continuing to build the type of team that our fans can be proud of. I know that they will be an integral part of any success that we have and that is why we are pleased to keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible for our fans.”
For the first time, season tickets are available in the Cleveland Browns Family Zone – a family-friendly, alcohol-free area in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Prices in the Family Zone are set at $32 per game on a season basis, making them one of the most affordable in the NFL.
Renewal information for current Season Ticket Holders will be mailed later this month. Season Ticket Holders also have the option of renewing their tickets through their Season Ticket Holder Locker Room on ClevelandBrowns.com. For the second straight year, the Browns are offering a series of flexible payment options and renewal prizes. Season Ticket Holders can log in to their Locker Room on ClevelandBrowns.com to take advantage of these payment options.
Information on Browns 2010 season tickets is available at ClevelandBrowns.com or by calling (440) 824-3434.
The Browns 2010 regular season home schedule includes games against the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and AFC North rivals Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Visa, proud sponsor of the Cleveland Browns and the only card accepted for Browns tickets.
Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
The Cleveland Browns announced today the additions of Kent Johnston as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and Mark Schiefelbein as Vice President – Football Operations.
Johnston brings more than 25 years of coaching experience on both the collegiate and professional levels to the Browns, most recently spending two years as the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Alabama (2004-05). He spent the last four years in the non-profit and business sector. Prior to his tenure in Tuscaloosa, Johnston spent 17 seasons in the NFL as the strength and conditioning coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987-91), Green Bay Packers (1992-98) and Seattle Seahawks (1999-2003). In 1997, he was honored as the “Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year” by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches’ Society. Johnston also had collegiate stops at Northwestern State University (1979-80), University of Louisiana at Monroe (1980-81) and Alabama (1983-86). Born in Mexia, Johnston is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin where he played defensive back.
Schiefelbein spent the previous 20 years in the NFL, including the last 18 with the Green Bay Packers (1992-2009), most recently serving as the Director of Football Administration/Communications. He also spent two years (1990-91) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his NFL tenure he has worked public relations, community relations and operations. He broke into the league as an intern with the Packers in 1989. A native of Reedsburg, Wis., Schiefelbein is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
Wide receiver/defensive back Mike Furrey has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2009 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, it was announced today by the NFL. Renamed in 1999 after legendary Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, this honor is the only league award that recognizes a player’s off the field community service activities as well as his playing excellence. The honor marks the first time the Browns have had one of the three finalists since their return in 1999. Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and Kansas City Chiefs guard Brian Waters join Furrey as the three finalists. The winner will be announced live on CBS before Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, February 7. Furrey, Fletcher and Waters will be in South Florida during Super Bowl week and will participate in a press conference on Friday, February 5, along with Payton’s family.
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Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
NFL Player and Clemson Alum Chansi Stuckey to Donate $10 for each Point Clemson Scores against Duke to Haitian Relief Fund
Clemson, SC – Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver and Clemson alum Chansi Stuckey plans to donate $10 for every point that the Clemson men’s basketball team scores against Duke this weekend to the Red Cross for Haitian relief.
The #16 ranked Clemson Tigers will host the #6 ranked Duke Blue Devils at Little John Coliseum on Saturday night at 9:05 pm ET. The game is being featured as part of ESPN’s College Game Day Series.
“My heart goes out to the people of Haiti right now,” says Stuckey. “I can’t imagine the devastation that they are facing. I hope things get much better for them very soon.”
Stuckey graduated from Clemson in 2006 after a stellar career in which he became the first Clemson player since the forties to score a Touchdown via pass, rush, punt return and reception and first since 1971 to earn All-ACC honors in consecutive seasons. He was also the first player in Clemson history to post consecutive games with multiple touchdown receptions.
Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
This is probably one of those pleasant problems to have, though it is one so foreign there is no telling how we’ll all respond.
What will Northeast Ohioans do in response to suddenly having genuinely competent individuals performing collectively atop the Cleveland Browns’ organization?
No longer must they endure an endless and agonizing procession of unproven first-year executives and overmatched head coaches. It may even be this spring begins a series of NFL drafts of which the fan base can actually be proud instead of embarrassed.
In a region renowned for its notoriously harsh fault-finding, the upcoming seasons could seem very odd indeed. So long it has been since last it employed credible and capable decision-makers within its football front office, it would be understandable if many knew not how to react. After all, many were not even alive when last such conditions existed.
Browns’ owner Randy Lerner has finally empowered a proven and established professional football man to shape and direct the fortunes of his club. Big Mike Holmgren, formerly of both the Packers and Seahawks, is now Lerner’s president, the man in whose vision the team will now evolve.
Holmgren has since hand-picked his general manager, longtime Dolphin and Eagle exec Tom Heckert, Jr., who has himself designated an accomplished assemblage of personnel assistants.
Never before since the 1999 rebirth of the Browns has an off-season begun with such progress and promise. In fact, one must journey backward to 1986 to discover a Browns’ leadership team capable of similarly demonstrating it knows what it is doing. Though three AFC Title Game appearances followed soon thereafter, the expectation is this contingent may very well exceed those heights.
That is because Holmgren and Heckert have repeatedly been involved with Super Bowl qualifiers. Coaches who’ve worked alongside and under them have gone on to construct winners themselves, rather than returning to obscurity.
What is more, Holmgren has the unquestionable distinction of extracting excellence from previously anonymous quarterbacks, something that has to be received as outstanding news by long-suffering Cleveland fans so often saddled with incompetence at the key position. Can optimism actually replace negativity along the North Coast?
It seems we are about to find out.
Personally, it will only be believed once it’s been seen.
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Enough has happened over the years that Cleveland fans should no longer subscribe to that bad things only happen to their teams. As much as they seemingly delight in their capacities to cite and wallow in their personal litanies of misfortune—Herb Score, Frank Lane, Ernie Davis, Tony Horton, the Drive, the Fumble, the boating mishap on Little Lake Lulu, the Shot, Jose Mesa, et al.—there have since been countless examples of difficulties challenging the resolve of other cities, their fan bases and their sports organizations.
Tragic and sudden deaths, for example, have struck the Boston Celtics, Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings, to note just a few, each claiming a stellar prospect early in his prime. Even more numerous have been the injuries to rival the Tribe’s inexplicable deprivation involving hard-throwing RHP Adam Miller and his troublesome finger or the Browns’ losing expensive homegrown free-agent center LeCharles Bentley on the very first play of practice, a non-contact walk-through.
It has not been only Clevelanders who have suffered nor been required to overcome stressful, unforeseen circumstances. Bad things happen to good people all over the globe. Probably you’re noticed.
This weekend, for example, those teams still alive in the NFL post-season have surmounted their own personnel challenges. The Saints have all year been without their most decorated offensive lineman, LT Jamaal Brown. Minnesota has been without MLB EJ Henderson and LCB Antoine Winfield for extended periods of time. Similarly, Indianapolis was resigned to employing a pair of undrafted free agents as their CBs for the bulk of their year, having lost both regulars, one of whom has yet to return. Peyton Manning has scarcely missed a beat, even without WRs Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez.
And these are also ballclubs who’ve had their decades of unpleasantness and distress. Not long ago, the Saints were synonymous with losing, regardless of how rabidly their locals supported them. Surely one remembers the ‘Aints and their bag-wearing fans.
The Vikes may be thought of by many as perennial contenders, as they’ve so often been playoff qualifiers. But theirs has not been a legacy of absolute celebration. They’ve not only been winless in all four of their Super Bowl experiences, but they’re comparably ineffective in their last four NFC Title Games, losing them all.
Does one imagine their fans relentlessly resurrect and celebrate their close calls, as if doing so were an Olympic sport with awards assigned?
Maybe it is time to let that stuff all go away and to focus on what will be.
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For those few of you out there who may choose to believe in astrological aspects, it should be acknowledged that Holmgren, the QB guru, and Derek Anderson, one of his QB hopefuls, share the same June 15th birthday. If ever there were a mentor potentially able to optimize what assets Anderson possesses, it might be thought Holmgren is that guy.
After all, wasn’t it Holmgren who assumed responsibility for a floundering Falcons draftee known more for his wild-living, near-death experiences and undisciplined gunslinging than for any professional achievements? And wasn’t it with that same untameable colt of a passer Mike restored a down-trodden Green Bay franchise to relevancy, won his Super Bowl, falling short in a second appearance? Isn’t that player, Brett Favre, now not only heading to the Hall of Fame but possibly to yet another championship at age 40?
Because of such a legendary achievement with a QB others might not have touched, it is suspected yet another troubled and floundering former Falcons QB may find his way into Holmgren’s first Cleveland camp, a fellow by the name of Michael Vick, who played this last season under Heckert’s management.
Only a man with Holmgren’s track record could get away with foisting Vick upon the Dawg Pound, particularly given the player’s history with canines. Or succeed in re-selling the embattled and regressing Anderson to Browns’ fans, though only if that player re-did his revoltingly exorbitant contract.
Sometimes it feels easy to imagine, with a football mind and influence such as Holmgren’s, all things are possible. Then again, maybe this is just yet another example of a Cleveland sports follower becoming carried away at the first sign of promise, a not entirely uncommon affliction among the populace.
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As a last word on Holmgren’s decision to retain Eric Mangini as head coach, one must factor that Holmgren is, at heart, a teacher. He began his career as an educator at the high school level, where one is not successful if assuming prior knowledge and where one must master management of what is in-house—since release waivers and negotiated trades are not possible.
It is within this context Holmgren was able to appreciate what Mangini confronted and accomplished. Though the growth was slow and often painful, one cannot argue that evidence of instruction existed and youngsters developed. Not unanimously—no, sadly that is rarely the case—but enough to demonstrate learning was occurring and people were evolving favorably.
Those who’ve stood before a classroom themselves and worn the mantel of schoolmaster can fairly quickly recognize the competence of a colleague. And know the influencing of the young is not an immediate-gratification undertaking.
Mark Leonard » Browns » No Comments
For Immediate Release
January 20, 2010
BROWNS ADD FOUR TO PLAYER PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
The Cleveland Browns today announced the additions of Jon Sandusky, Keith Gilbertson, John Spytek and A.J. Durso to the clubs personnel department. In addition, the team signed defensive back Chris Roberson as a free agent for the 2010 season.
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Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
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Browns General Manager Tom Heckert, President Mike Holmgren, Head Coach Eric Mangini and Executive Vice President – Business Operations Bryan Wiedmeier press conference 1-12-10
(Opening statement)
Mike Holmgren
“Thanks for showing up today. We appreciate it. I’m very, very excited to be able to introduce to you two new additions to the Cleveland Browns. On my right, Bryan Wiedmeier who most recently, well for a very long time, has been with the Miami Dolphins in the business side of the operation. He will be an Executive Vice President here in charge of business administration. On my left, Tom Heckert, our new General Manager, who most recently has been with the Philadelphia Eagles with my old friend Andy Reid and done a great job there. We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to hire both of these men. [They are] excellent, excellent football people with a proven track record. I think you more you get to know them and talk to them you’ll realize that moving forward, this is quite a group up here, and I’m taking myself out of the equation, I’m talking about the other three. Eric and I have talked about many things in moving forward in the last couple weeks. It was really very, very important that we be able to hire men like these two fellas right here. I’m very, very excited. They can speak for themselves. What I’d like to do is start with Tommy, talk a little bit about whatever he wants to talk about then we’ll go to Bryan as a way of introduction and then after that we’ll entertain questions from you.”
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Barry McBride » Browns » No Comments
STATEMENT FROM FORMER DOLPHINS AND HALL OF FAME HEAD COACH DON SHULA
“I’ve always felt that if I left the Dolphins and started somewhere else in the league the first person I would hire would be Bryan Wiedmeier. I’ve known him since he was a teenager and watched as he worked himself up through the ranks. He knows every aspect of the business and has become one of the top executives in the NFL.
“Like Bryan, Tom Heckert also grew up in the business – his father worked with me, so I’ve known Tom since he started in the league. He has a great football mind and knows every aspect of talent evaluation.
“I’ve got Cleveland Browns roots, so I’m happy about the two great decisions they made. They added two outstanding executives to their organization and I want to wish them the best of success.”
STATEMENT FROM EAGLES HEAD COACH ANDY REID
“Tom is one of my favorite people and I think he’s great at what he does, phenomenal. The things that he’s helped us do here are phenomenal. He’ll do a great job in Cleveland. I know he’s working with one of my best friends and somebody that will allow him to do even more than he was doing here.”
STATEMENT FROM FORMER DOLPHINS PRESIDENT EDDIE JONES
“I am excited for both Bryan and Tom. It was a pleasure to work with them for many years. With Bryan, I’ve never seen a more confident individual, and with his background and expertise he is going to be a positive addition for the Cleveland Browns. The experience that I’ve had with Tom and his family, in addition to his track record of success in Philadelphia, makes me certain that he is also going to be a positive addition in Cleveland.”
Barry McBride » Browns » 1 Comment
