Cleveland Browns

 

The Cleveland Browns first started their professional football franchise in 1946, where it joined the All-America Football Conference thanks to Paul Brown. The Browns have always had controversy surrounding them, and for good reason. It was in 1995, when the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the now famous Baltimore Ravens, and thanks to that many different aspects of the NFL started changing. The team is headquartered in Berea, Ohio, where they also have their training facility. The team colors are, and will always be, Seal Brown, Burnt Orange, and White, along with their mascot Chomps, who is a 6’1” Labrador with a mean looking mug. They play their home games in the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

 

Browns Brief Team History

The Cleveland Browns have a good, long history with some controversy thrown in the middle of it. They were first established in 1946 where they joined the AAFC and made Paul Brown head coach of the team. With Paul Brown at the helm, the team managed to win four of the AAFC championships and remained a top-notch team even after they joined the NFL in 1950, by winning a NFL championship their first year, another two times in 1954 and 1955. By 1961, Art Modell decided to purchase the Browns, and by 1964 Modell fired Paul Brown as head coach. The Browns continued their success, making multiple playoffs appearances and winning a couple Division and Conference titles as well.

It wasn’t until 1995 that Art Modell decided to relocate the team, which if you can imagine left a very bad taste in everyone’s mouths, especially the State of Ohio. Before Modell would take the team to Baltimore and create the Baltimore Ravens, he was forced to relinquish ownership of the team name, colors, logos, and even the history. On top of all of this, the State and the NFL agreed to give Ohio another NFL team within three years. By 1999, the new Cleveland Browns were formed; some people believe the team used the same name and colors to spite Modell. The new Browns haven’t had as much success as the previous one, but they are still improving and adapting.

 

Notable Browns Figures

The Browns have been a great NFL team since the 1950’s, and even though the team had to start from scratch in 1995, they will always have great people surrounding their success.

 

Past Browns Figures

 

Paul Brown was the most influential person on the Browns team. Not only was a successful head coach, leading the team through various victories, but he was also a large promoter of creating a new team in Cleveland, after the other one had left. He truly was a big Cleveland Browns fan.

 

Bernie Kosar started his career as a great quarterback when he started playing for the Browns in 1985 and lasted until 1993. He may not have been the most agile athlete, but he is still known for his excellent judgment while on the field, setting league records for throwing 308 consecutive passes without an interception in 1990 and 1991.

 

Ozzie Newsome was a Tight End for the Cleveland Browns and played with them for his entire career; from 1978 until 1990. He was known for his amazing and acrobatic catches, and was an all-around great tight end. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999, and is most known for his loyalty towards the Cleveland Browns team and fans.

 

Present Browns Figures

 

Trent Richards is the current Running Back for the Browns, and has shown exceptional skills among his peers and what makes it even more impressive is that he is in his rookie year. After playing the first six games of the 2012 NFL regular season, he already has 340 yards and 4 touchdowns, beating the nearest teammate by over 250 yards. What makes him a great asset for the Browns is the fact that he also has the capability of being a great receiver.

 

Josh Gordon is another rookie on the Browns roster, but so far this Wide Receiver has been able to make a big impact. Even though he hasn’t had much playing time, he was still able to get 274 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 12 receptions. Gordon has a very bright future ahead of him.

 

Phil Dawson is the first-line Kicker for the Browns and it is weird to hear that one influential player on your team is the kicker, but in his case it’s true. He has been playing for the Browns since 1999 and has been an effective kicker, getting those needed field goals. So far, after the first six games of the 2012 regular season, he has kicked 12 field goals out of 12 attempts; he is a great clutch kicker and is able to get those hard earned points.

 

The Cleveland Browns team this season is full of new players that are fresh from the draft or are being given more playing time than before. Either way, the Browns essentially have a young team, and if they continue to nurture and give their players the right instruction, in a few years the Browns could have a top competing team.

 

Present Team Personnel

The current owner of the Cleveland Browns is Jimmy Haslam, a big time business man that certainly enjoys and knows plenty about the NFL. The Browns recently underwent some changes and with that they acquired Pat Shurmur as their new head coach in 2011. Despite the losing season that the Browns are having, Shurmur has been making the right calls and putting the right players on the field, the luck just hasn’t been on their side.