Browns Position Players: Best in YOUR Lifetime

[peeker643]

Training camp is nearly upon us.

Let's do something to officially move past LeCision and move down the road.

My game, my rules:

You have to have seen them play and you're basing it on their time with the Browns.

Preferably at a time when you could comprehend what the hell you were watching. While I may have been alive for Frank Ryan's tenure as QB I barely even remember Bill Nelsen.

So you need to have seen them when you knew what you were seeing.

QB (3)
RB (4)
WR (6)
TE (3)
PK (3)
C (3)
G (3)
T (3)

KR/PR (4)
Special Teamer (non returner) (3)

Doing it this way because at nearly every position a guy or two stands out. Interested to see the differences between generations of fans as well as what those 'generational depth charts' look like.

I prefer no tweaking but I'm willing to listen. Defense next week or whenever.

Go.

[swerb]

Great idea Peeks.

QB (3) - Bernie Kosar, 2007 DA, 2003 Kelly Holcomb (Jesus Christ that's sad)
RB (4) - Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack, Eric Metcalf, Leroy Hoard
WR (6) - Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan, Reggie Langhorne, Kevin Johnson, Reggie Rucker, Dave Logan
TE (3) - Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow II, Steve Heiden
PK (3) - Matt Bahr, Phil Dawson, Matt Stover
C (3) - Mike Baab, Alex Mack, Steve Everitt
G (3) - Joe DeLamiluerre, Dan Fike, Eric Steinbach
T (3) - Joe Thomas, Cody Riesen, Doug Dieken

KR/PR (4) - Josh Cribbs, Ice Cube McNeil, Clarence Weathers, Dennis Northcutt
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) - Ryan Pontbriand, Brian Kinchen, Felix Wright

[Squints]

My game, my rules:

QB (3)
RB (4)
WR (6)
TE (3)
PK (3)
C (3)
G (3)
T (3)

KR/PR (4)
Special Teamer (non returner) (3)


Go.

From approx '84 on. I'll put these in order.
QB- Kosar, Testaverde, Anderson.

RB- Mack, Byner, Lewis, Hoard

WR- Slaughter, Langhorne, Brennan, Joey J, Edwards, KJ

TE- Newsome, K2, Heiden

K- Dawson, Bahr, Stover

C- Everitt, Baab, Mack

G- Fike, Steinbach, Farren (listed as a G/T, short on Guards)

T- Thomas, Reisen, Dieken

Return- Cribbs, Metcalf, Cube, Andre Davis. Assuming we can put a player at only one position, I'll use Metcalf here.

ST- Bennie Thompson, Pontbriand, DD Hoggard- I remember him being really fast as a gunner.

This team would pound the ball with the run and every kick off/punt would go out of bounds.

[peeker643]

QB- Kosar, Brian Sipe, V. Testaverde (yes, it is an awful statement on the QBs of the last 35 years)
RB- Greg Pruitt, Mike Pruitt, Ernest Byner, Kevin Mack ( I remember Leroy Kelly but he was on the downside)
WR- Slaughter, Brennan, Michael Jackson, Braylon, Kevin Johnson, Clarence Weathers
TE- Newsome, K2, Milt Morin
T- Risien, Tony Jones, Joe Thomas
G- Joe D, Steinbach, Dan Fike
C- Mike Baab, Tom DeLeone, Steve Everitt
PK- Matt Bahr, Phil Dawson, Matt Stover
PR/KR- Cribbs, Metcalf, Cube, Dino Hall
ST Non KR- Cribbs, DD Hoggard, Scott Nicolas

[Triple-S]

I was one years old for the Browns last division title, 5 for the Browns last playoff home game, 10 when they came back, 12 when they made the playoffs and lost against the Steelers. So keep all of that in mind for my list.

QB

Derek Anderson 07
Kelly Holcomb
Tim Couch

RB (4)

Jamal Lewis 07
William Green 02
Lawrence Vickers
Jerome Harrison

WR

Braylon Edwards 07
Joe Jurevicious
Kevin Johnson
Dennis Dropcutt
MoMass
Quincy Morgan

TE

Kellen Winslow
Steve Heiden
Aaron Shea

PK

Phil Dawson
Chris Gardocki
Dave Zastudil

C

Hank Fraley
Alex Mack
Shaun O'Hara

G

Eric Steinbach

T

Ryan Tucker
Joe Thomas

KR/PR

Josh Cribbs
Dennis Northcutt

ST

Ryan Pontbriand.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

QB (3) Frank Ryan, Brian Sipe, Bernie
RB (4) JB, Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly, Greg Pruitt
WR (6) Bobby Mitchell@FL, Gary Collins, Paul Fucking Warfield, Rucker, Web, Brennan
TE (3) Ozzie, Chip Glass, Milt Morin
PK (3) The Toe, Cockroft, Matt Bahr
C (3) John Morrow,Steve Everitt,
G (3) Hickerson, Wooten, Fike
T (3) Dick Schafrath, Monte Clark, Joe Thomas

KR/PR (4) Homer Jones, Metcalf, Greg Pruitt, Josh Cribbs

Special Teamer (non returner) (3) I don't ever remember us having a Steve Tasker. No one stands out for moi

Edit: I'm dropping The Cube from KR. Can't believe I left Metcalf off my list. No one else here remembers Homer Jones but anyone who took the 2nd H KO for a TD in the first MNF game and the guy who invented the spike is a given.

[waborat]

QB- Sipe, Kosar, Strock

RB- G Pruitt, M Pruitt, Mack, Byner

WR- Logan, Rucker, Slaughter, Brennan, Langhorne, Warfield

TE- Newsome, Winslow, Weathers

K- Cockroft, Bahr, Moseley

C- Baab, DeLeone, Faine

G- DeLamielleure, Fike, Robert E Jackson

T- Dieken, Risien, Bolden

KR/PR- Metcalf, Cribbs, Hall, McNeil

ST- Cowher, Keith Wright, Steve Cox

[hermanfontenot]

QB- Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Tim Couch
RB- Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack, Jamal Lewis, Leroy Hoard
WR- Webster Slaughter, Reggie Langhorne, Brian Brennan, Braylon Edwards, Kevin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt
TE- Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow Jr., Steve Heiden
PK- Phil Dawson, Matt Bahr, Matt Stover
C- Mike Baab, Steve Everitt, Dave Wolabaugh
G- Dan Fike, Eric Steinbach, Ryan Tucker
T- Joe Thomas, Cody Risien, Tony Jones

KR/PR- Josh Cribbs, Eric Metcalf, Gerald McNeil, Glen Young
Special Teamer- Ron Wolfley, Bennie Thompson, Herman Fontenot

*- Say what you want about the rest of the positions since 1984 (about when I got into the Browns) but that any franchise would want that group of return men. Cribbs and Metcalf are among the best of all time, the Cube was one of the best of his day and Glen Young wasn't shabby either.

*- I was close to putting Alex Mack on this list at center. He looked really, really good down the stretch last season. Like, Pro Bowl good. Just doesn't quite have the service time.

*- Tight ends fall off a cliff after Ozz and K2.

*- I almost included Keenan McCardell in the WR group.

[Squints]

Wabo- What? No Graham or Motley?

I think the amount Peek suggested is accurate. Unless there are people who remember the 60's and prior I don't see where any one of these positions are loaded and where I thought to myself, "Boy, there just aren't enough slots." Top heavy, definitely especially at KR/PR (as above, who would kick to this team?) but most positions show a steep decline in the depth chart esp QB. I tired not to include DA, Edwards or KJ, but just couldn't given the parameters (Dyson/Jackson? No.). Just my .02.

I pity the guys too young to remember the 80's.

Defense- Mark me down for the late 80's plus E-Rock. Done. But we'll dissect that when the time comes. Good thread. Let's do this for the Bucks later on.

[waborat]

Wabo- What? No Graham or Motley?

Damn dude, I'm still a yungin...

Only seen Heather & Crue perform

[OldDawg]

Peek, just showing my age!

QB (3) Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar, Bill Nelsen
RB (4) Leroy Kelly; Kevin Mack; Greg Pruitt; Earnest Byner
WR (6) Paul Warfield; Webster Slaughter; Reggie Rucker; Brian Brennan; Reggie Langhorne; Northcutt
TE (3) Ozzie Newsome, Milt Morin; K2
PK (3) Cockroft, Bahr, Dawson
C (3) Everitt; Baab; Mack
G (3) Gene Hickerson, Joe DeLamiellaure; Eric Steinbach
T (3) Dick Schafrath, Joe Thomas, Doug Dieken

KR/PR (4) Josh Cribbs, Greg Pruitt, Eric Metcalf, Ice Cube McNeil
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Josh Cribbs on coverage. Who the heck knows else?

Coach: Marty Schottenhiemer; Blanton Collier; Sam Rutigliano

[Ziner]

Eff you old guys with your old balls

QB (3) Bernie, duh. Vinnie, DA 2007
RB (4) Metcalf, Byner, Mack, Droughns (screw you old guys again)
WR (6) Slaughter, Brennan, Langhorne, Michael Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Braylon
TE (3) Oz, K2, Heiden
PK (3) Dawson, Barr, have we had another kicker?
C (3) Everitt, Mack, Faine
G (3) Steinbach, Lauvao, yeah we we suck
T (3) Thomas, Tucker, too young, check out Bob Evans for 3rd

KR/PR (4) Cribbs, Metcalf, Northcutt, Andre Davis
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Cribbs, who else matters

I like tussin and beer, eff you CDT

[General]

QB (3) Nelsen, Sipe, Kosar
RB (4) Kelly, Mack, Byner, Ron Johnson
WR (6) Warfield, Logan, Brennan, Slaughter, Langhorne, Collins
TE (3) Morin, Newsome, Winslow (Ouch)
PK (3) Cockroft, Dawson, Bahr
C (3) Baab, Mack, Hoaglin
G (3) Hickerson...no need to go on
T (3) Dieken, Thomas, Monte Clark

KR/PR (4) Cribbs, Metcalf, Ice Cube
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Clueless

[mattvan1]

Training camp is nearly upon us.

Let's do something to officially move past LeCision and move down the road.

My game, my rules:

You have to have seen them play and you're basing it on their time with the Browns.

Preferably at a time when you could comprehend what the hell you were watching.

I have not been able to comprehend what I have been watching for most of the last 11 years. Without reading anyone's reply, here goes..........
QB (3) Kosar, Sipe, Vinny
RB (4) Greg Pruitt, Mike Pruitt, Byner, Lewis
WR (6) Slaughter, Edwards, Brennan, Rucker, KJ, Andre Davis
TE (3) Ozzie, Winslow, Morin?
PK (3) Bahr, Cockroft, Dawson
C (3) DeLeone, Baab, Everitt?
G (3) Joe D, Risien, ??
T (3) Thomas, Dieken, Jones
KR/PR (4) Cribbs, Metcalf, Cube, G. Pruitt
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) wow - really tough question. Pass.

Ok, now the edits - Everyone had Risien as a T, so I'll stand corrected. Dan Fike is a good choice at G. Obvious exclusion from my list was Heiden at TE.

[Squints]

Wabo- What? No Graham or Motley?

Damn dude, I'm still a yungin...

Only seen Heather & Crue perform

Well done, sir.

[waborat]

I have not been able to comprehend what I have been watching for most of the last 11 years. Without reading anyone's reply, here goes..........

After reading everyone's picks so far, I come to the conclusion that we haven't had too many "very good" players here over the past 35+ years...

If ya didn't see Kelly, Brown, Nelson or Warfield, then all ya saw were good kickers & returners...

Oh, and the Bone Lady

[Fire Marshall Bill]

I have not been able to comprehend what I have been watching for most of the last 11 years. Without reading anyone's reply, here goes..........

After reading everyone's picks so far, I come to the conclusion that we haven't had too many "very good" players here over the past 35+ years...

If ya didn't see Kelly, Brown, Nelson or Warfield, then all ya saw were good kickers & returners...

Oh, and the Bone Lady

Bill Nelson didn't even make my list. Neither did Milt Plum

I saw. I remember.

I'm sick to my stomach

[papacass]

Chris Gardocki made nobody's list of special teamers? In '99 and '00, his ability to stick the ball inside the 10 yard line was probably the only marketable skill on the entire Browns roster.

[Squints]

Chris Gardocki made nobody's list of special teamers? In '99 and '00, his ability to stick the ball inside the 10 yard line was probably the only marketable skill on the entire Browns roster.

I didn't include him because the punters weren't listed and was thinking that position would be included in the next round with the defense, if Peek thinks punters are worthy of mention. But yes, Gardocki would be my punter.

[peeker643]

I probably shoulda put all the special teams spot on one side of the ledger but, yes, punter was going to be on the defensive side of the coin, right or wrong.

Was just getting too busy when I actually set it up.

I'll do the defensive thread Wednesday when this class for work is in the rearview mirror.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I'm not sure.

[Bigfist]

Damn..I must be..by far..the oldest guy here

QB...Sipe, Kosar, Nelsen
RB...Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Kevin Mack, Greg Pruitt
WR...Warfield, Collins, Slaughter, Reggie Rucker, Dave Logan, Braylon Edwards
TE...Newsome, Morin, Winslow
Pk...Groza, Dawson, Bahr
C..John Morrow, Fred Hoaglin, Steve Everitt
G...John Wooten, Joe Demlaumellier (SP?), Gene Hickerson
T...Doug Dieken, Schafrath, Joe Thomas
KR/PR..Cribbs, Metcalf, McNeill, Walter Roberts
ST...Cribbs, Vardell, Pontbriand

[mattvan1]

Damn..I must be..by far..the oldest guy here

Older than dirt.

[Larvell Blanks]

QB Sipe, Kosar, David Mays (be it one good game vs Pitt)
RB (4)Gregg Pruitt, Mack, Byner, Leroy Hoard
WR (6) Logan, Slaughter, Brennan, Rucker, Ricky Feacher, Warfield, (end of career PW)
TE (3)Ozzie, Oscar Roan, Harry Holt
PK (3)Cockroft, Bahr, Mosley
C (3)DeLeon, Everett, Baab
G (3)R.E.Jackson, Fike, Farren
T (3)Dieken, Risien, Ricky Bolden

KR/PR (4)G. Pruitt, Eric Metcalf, Cribbs, Dino Hall
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Ron Wolfley,

[Hikohadon]

QB (3) - Kosar, Sipe, Brady Quinn
RB (4) - Greg Pruitt, Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack, Ben Gay
WR (6) - WebStar, Reggie Langhorne, Brian Brennan, Reggie Rucker, Dave Logan, Quincy Morgan
TE (3) - The Oz, K2, Kyle Brady
PK (3) - Phil Dawson, Matt Bahr, Mark Mosely
C (3) - Steve Everitt, Mike Baab, LeCharles Bentley
G (3) - Joey D, Dan Fike, Ike Sowells
T (3) - Joe Thomas, Cody Reisen, Joaquin Gonzalez

KR/PR (4) - Cribbs, The Cube, Eric Metcalf, Gerard Lawson
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) - Ryan Pontbriand, Gardocki, Bill Cowher

[Hikohadon]

Some of the answers from the younger guys make me sad. To see some of the players that are actually the best that you have personally seen... bless your hearts for not migrating to the dark side.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Some of the answers from the younger guys make me sad. To see some of the players that are actually the best that you have personally seen... bless your hearts for not migrating to the dark side.

Ditto. Yir true men of honor.

I'm almost embarrassed my list has HoF's

[BruceK]

QB (3) - Bernie Kosar, Brian Sipe, Bill Nelsen
RB (4) - Leroy Kelley, Greg Pruitt, Kevin Mack, Ernie Green
WR (6) - Paul Warfield, Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan, Reggie Langhorne, Reggie Rucker, Gary Collins
TE (3) - Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow II, Milt Morin
PK (3) - Matt Bahr, Phil Dawson, Don Cockcroft
C (3) - Mike Baab, Tom DeLeone, Fred Hoaglin
G (3) - Joe DeLamiluerre, Gene Hickerson, John Wooten
T (3) - Joe Thomas, Cody Riesen, Dick Schafrath

BTW, just barely remember 64-65, so I really don't remember Jim Brown playing.

KR would be Cribbs, Metcalfe

[hornet84]

QB (3) Sipe, Kosar, Couch ( Ouch )
RB (4)G.Pruitt,Mack,Byner,Hoard
WR (6)Rucker,Logan,Brennan,Langhorne,Michael Jackson,KJ
TE (3)Newsome,K2,Morin
PK (3)Dawson,Bahr,Cockroft
C (3)Babb,Deleone,Everitt
G (3)Joe D.,Fike, Steinbach
T (3)Thomas,Dieken,Zeus before the flag

KR/PR (4) G.Pruitt,Cribbs,Metcalf,Northcutt
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Cowher,Curtis Weathers,Cribbs

[wiz1001]

Feeling sorry for you young pups....pretty slim pickings for you guys...

QB (3) Sipe, Kosar, Ryan
RB (4) Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, G.Pruitt, Mack
WR (6) Warfield, Slaughter, Collins, Renfro, Langhorne, KJ
TE (3) Newsome, Winslow, Morin
PK (3) Groza, Cockroft, Dawson
C (3) Babb, Mack, Morrow
G (3) Hickerson, Joe D., Wooten
T (3) Schafrath, Thomas, Dieken

KR/PR (4) Cribbs, Metcalf, McNeil, G. Pruitt
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) Cribbs, ?

[hermanfontenot]

Some of the answers from the younger guys make me sad. To see some of the players that are actually the best that you have personally seen... bless your hearts for not migrating to the dark side.

Pfft. The Steelers were dogshit when I first started watching. Their best player was Louie Lipps.

[CP]

QB (3) - Kosar, Couch, do I have to name 3?
RB (4) - Byner, Mack, rookie William Green, Harrison
WR (6) - Brennan, Slaughter, Langhorne, Braylon, Kevin Johnson, Metcalf (yes I'm putting him here)
TE (3) - Newsome, Winslow, do I have to name 3?
PK (3) - Bahr, Stover, Dawson
C (3) - Baab, Everitt, Mack
G (3) - Steinbach, Fike, do I have to name 3?
T (3) - Thomas, Risien, Farren

KR/PR (4) - Cribbs, McNeil, Metcalf, Northcutt
Special Teamer (non returner) (3) - Cribbs, Pontriand, Fontenot