Dawgbeat

Dawgbeat 06/30/2007 : My all-time team

Browns All-Time All-Pro's

by Eric Brown

      Since this is my all time Browns team, I have to leave off players that I have never had the pleasure to see play. So not to offend older, wiser Browns fans I will make reference to other players that would clearly be head and shoulders above some of my picks. We've all seen the old black and white films of Otto Graham and JimBrown and Lou Groza, but being 35 my recollection of Browns teams starts in about 1979 to 1980. The era I have lived through, obviously pales in comparison to what the Browns accomplished early in their existence, but still has many fond memories and players to remember.

QB-Bernie Kosar- While the Brian Sipe era left so many good memories, it jusn't quite as fun as the Kosar, Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan, and Kevin Mack/Earnest Byner years. The Browns reluctance to maintain a solid offensive line and the Denver Broncos were the only things standing in the way of Bernie becoming one of the best ever and a Hall of Famer. I truly believe if we had gotten by the Broncos in 86(87) and 87(88) we would have won the Super Bowl. His intelligence and pinpoint accuracy were a joy to watch as opposing teams tried to blitz. It's good to see the current Browns have paid attention to the offensive line so that Brady Quinn won't suffer the same fate Kosar did. (OTTO GRAHAM)

RB-Earnest Byner-Despite his game ending fumble against the Broncos in the championship game, it was he who allowed us to even be in that game. A 10th round draft pick out of East Carolina wasn't expected to have much impact, but the kid with funny glasses still leaves me with a lifetime of memories of hard nosed running,  and determination. (JIM BROWN)

RB-Leroy Hoard-Kevin Mack finishes a close third on my list, but Hoard still stands out in my mind. I think Mack's accomplishment's are buried beneath my memories of Kosar, Slaughter, Brennan, Reggie Langhorne, etc. Hoard kind of took on the personality of the Browns offense during the Bill Belichick and Vinny Testaverde era. The 1994 Browns were just positioning themselves to take flight as an elite NFL franchise when the "traitor" destroyed it all in 1995. Leroy Hoard was a rugged, short yardage guy, that could also catch the ball and make a few moves. (MARION MOTLEY, LEROY KELLY)

TE-Ozzie Newsome-No one else even comes close in my era or any other. Ozzie provided so many great moments for the Cleveland Browns. I will not go on about him though, as it is hard for me to fathom that he is the face of the Baltimore Ravens. (OZZIE NEWSOME)

WR-Webster Slaughter-"Webstar", as he was affectionately known was just fun to watch. He wasn't a big guy but he could handle himself against the biggest on the field. So many games I can remember Kosar hitting him on the "quick slant" to beat blitzes, or seeing Bernie "wing" one down the left sideline for a  huge gain. I remember in the 1986 draft, coming home from school and asing my dad "who did the Brown's get? My dad replied some guy named Slaughter or something! I said, who? That quickly changed and he is still my favorite Browns receiver of all time. (PAUL WARFIELD)

WR-Michael Jackson (Dyson)-Jackson, a player that caught passes from Brett Favre in college at Southern Mississippi made a name for himself rather quickly. In his rookie training camp, #1 could not be touched making long catch after long catch and quickly became the Browns go-to guy. Brian Brennan, Reggie Langhorne, and Derrick Alexander also weighed in here, but Jackson had the "flare" factor. (GARY COLLINS, DANTE LAVELLI)

C-Steve Everitt-I know Mike Baab, Tom DeLeone, but Everitt got all of my respect during the inaugural Ravens season when he wore the Browns bandana under his helmet for every game. He displayed his affection for our city and knew that the "traitor's" decison to move our team was as wrong a move in sports history as there ever was. Everitt was hard nosed son of a bitch that didn't take it from anyone, I wish he could still play. It was hard to pick him over Baab and his "barbarians" but Everitt still stands out for me. (TOM DELEONE, FRANK GATSKI)

G-Joe DeLamiellure-He's a hall of famer, what else do you need to know. One of the best trades made by the Browns to get a classy, no frills, tough guy on our line. He was at the end of his career when we acquired him, but nonetheless a quality player. (GENE HICKERSON)

T-Cody Riesen-Part of the teams that first come to my mind as the Cleveland Browns glory days, Riesen was one of the guys up front that made it all possible. Year after year #63 got overlooked for Pro Bowl honors but definitely deserved it. (LOU GROZA, DICK SHAFRATH, MIKE MCCORMACK))

DT-Michael Dean Perry- On draft day he was one of the players I had hoped we would get and we did. He quickly became a star in the NFL with his quickness and speed to the quarterback, truly one of the all-time great defenders in Browns history. what other NFL defender do you know that had a McDonalds sandwich named after him? (BILL WILLIS)

NT-Bob Golic- A guy the New England Patriots couldn't find a position for lands in Cleveland and becomes the stud nose tackle of the NFL. He was the heart and sole of the Browns defenses in our championship quests during the 80's. (BOB GOLIC)

DE-Rob Burnett- I'll probably get stung for this, but I really enjoyed seeing burnett in the Orange and Brown uniform teamed up with Anthony Pleasant. Burnett always seemed to be there making plays. Lyle Alzado, Carl Hairston and Sam Clancy also come to mind, but Burnett is a guy I just loved to watch play. (JERRY SHERK, LEN FORD)

OLB-Clay Matthews-Nobody can ever come close to the player that Matthews was for this franchise defensively. Game in, game out he was there making big play after big play for the Browns. The picture of health, there is not another defensive player that comes to mind that had the impact that Matthews did over a longer period of time. (CLAY MATTHEWS)

ILB-Pepper Johnson-Mike Johnson and Eddie Johnson certainly deserve to be in here but "Pepper" was a guy that got everybody fired up on those 90's teams that were just coming into their own when the "idiot" ruined it all. I can't help but believe that the team turned the corner in 1994 because of Johnson's play and leadership, was there ever a better Browns defense than in 1994? (DICK AMBROSE)

CB-I have to pick two players here and I know you already know who they are. without further adieu, Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield. During their era they were the best tandem in the NFL and one of the best corner tandems ever. Their play gave defensive coordinators the opportunity to be creative knowing that these two guys had the corners locked down. Both should be hall of famers and would be if not for the Denver Broncos squeaking by us twice. (FRANK MINNIFIELD/HANFORD DIXON)

S- This, believe it or not was my toughest choice. We have seen in my era Don Rogers, Eric Turner, Felix Wright, Clarence Scott, and Thom Darden. I think Don Rogers may have been the best, but will never know. Thom Darden was certainly one of the best, but I have a couple Michigan guys in here already. So, my choice is Eric Turner. Opposing receivers feared going over the middle against this guy and he was also rangy enough to make the critical interceptions. another guy i just loved watching in orange and brown. (THOM DARDEN)

K-Phil Dawson-He has been the mainstay since 1999 and is as solid a performer as the Browns have seen since the return. Matt Bahr would have been my pick, but some accolades must go to the "new" franchise and Dawson is the only one who deserves it. (LOU GROZA)

P-Chris Gardocki-Was another consistent performer for the Browns since their return until Butch Davis let him go to Pittsburgh. There wasn't much to cheer about in Cleveland during his stay, but we always knew we were in good hands with the punting situation. (HORACE GILLOM)

SPECIAL TEAMS-Definitely an easy one, Eric Metcalf. His electricity and moves on the football field were dynamic to watch. Alot of people like to head toward the fridge during punt and kickoff returns. As a Cleveland Browns you knew never to leave for the fridge when Metcalf would be touching the ball. At any time he could change the outcome of a game with his return ability, just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. (ERIC METCALF)

HEAD COACH-Marty Schottenheimer. But only because he got his teams to the AFC championship game. Marty was loved by everyone and I would welcome him back for another shot. As Browns fans we could count on our team making the playoffs year in year out and at least having a chance at a Super Bowl trophy. NOTE: Had the "idiot" not taken our franchise elsewhere in 1995, I believe Bill Belichick would have built a dynasty here in Cleveland and this choice may have been different. If you go back and look at the quality personnel and coaching staff, as well as team he was building in 1994 and 1995 it is a who's who of professional and college football today. Nick Saban, Eric Mangini, Phil Savage, Pat Hill, Kirk Ferentz, Chuck Bresnahan just to name a few guys on his staff. That 1994 and 1995 team was about to become an NFL dynasty if not for the "dummy". (PAUL BROWN)

Well, that's all I have for today, hope you enjoyed and were able to conjure up some memories for you.