~ AND ~ 🏈 only 204 days and now 92 ? 57 ? 32 ? 19 ? YES really ! And still counting... 🏈 ....​​​​​​​🔥

[mjp28]

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

Not even this oppressive heat can stop the inevitable fun that is an upcoming Cleveland Browns season, as we are Ernie Davis days until the start of the 2023 Browns season. Davis was a great follow-up to Jim Brown at Syracuse, in fact he wore Browns #44. In the three years he played for the Orangemen (freshman could not play back then) he helped Syracuse win the National Championship in 1959 and was named All-American the next two seasons, including winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season in 1961. He was the first black player to win the Heisman, and almost was the first black player to play for the Washington Redskins, but Davis refused to play for their racist owner, George Preston Marshall, and demanded a trade. Paul Brown quickly jumped on the chance to have an All-Syracuse backfield, and traded future Hall of Fame RB Bobby Mitchell to Washington for the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft, the "Elmira Express". 

Unfortunately, Paul Brown's dream never happened. Davis had a swollen throat during the College All-Star Game practices leading up to their exhibition game vs the World Champion Green Bay Packers, and what was expected to be a case of the mumps was leukemia. Davis never played a down for the Browns, but did suit up in a Browns uniform and ran out onto the Cleveland Stadium field during a night preseason game, as a spotlight followed him. He would pass away the following May, at the age of 23. 

 

Well  Ernie Davis  6' 2"  210 lbs  All American,   Heisman Trophy Winner  following with the great Jim Brown to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ?    He must be one lucky guy ..... well maybe not,  we'll see. 

▪︎. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.   

At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football in grade school. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. At the end of his senior season he was recruited by numerous colleges, and chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown, a Syracuse alumnus. ▪︎

Earnie went on to an outstanding career at Syracuse,  as previously mentioned an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy  went on to the Cleveland BROWNS  what could be better ?   LIFE sometimes just isn't fair no matter how decent and deserving you might be. 

I remember this period just fine as a 11 and later 12 year old BIG Cleveland sports fan.  Everything going on was a sports dream.  Our NILES McKinley high school won the OHIO State Championship in 1961 (and later in 1963).   OSU and Woody were rolling.       

Just one thing  did not happen,  how do you explain to a 12 year old kid what leukemia is  -and-  back then it was a near fatal diagnosis.

Ernie Davis died at 23 ...... life is just not fair sometimes regardless of who you are. 

BUT we just have to carry on.  EOM.

[Flugel]

9 hours ago, mjp28 said:

Well  Ernie Davis  6' 2"  210 lbs  All American,   Heisman Trophy Winner  following with the great Jim Brown to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ?    He must be one lucky guy ..... well maybe not,  we'll see. 

▪︎. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.   

At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football in grade school. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. At the end of his senior season he was recruited by numerous colleges, and chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown, a Syracuse alumnus. ▪︎

Earnie went on to an outstanding career at Syracuse,  as previously mentioned an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy  went on to the Cleveland BROWNS  what could be better ?   LIFE sometimes just isn't fair no matter how decent and deserving you might be. 

I remember this period just fine as a 11 and later 12 year old BIG Cleveland sports fan.  Everything going on was a sports dream.  Our NILES McKinley high school won the OHIO State Championship in 1961 (and later in 1963).   OSU and Woody were rolling.       

Just one thing  did not happen,  how do you explain to a 12 year old kid what leukemia is  -and-  back then it was a near fatal diagnosis.

Ernie Davis died at 23 ...... life is just not fair sometimes regardless of who you are. 

BUT we just have to carry on.  EOM.

GREAT stuff by you and Dutch about this guy!    The movie "The Express" does a great job of bringing viewers back in time to what made him a 1st overall pick in the draft by Washington.  It also reminds people that some of the racial induced hatred never stopped at Jackie Robinson.  Davis took an extra volume of late hits after the whistle and out of bounds; while I'm sure some people will say that was just Hollywood trying to juice up the story. 

[Dutch Oven]

The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. 

 

 

[Flugel]

10 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. 

 

 

Way to go Dutch!  I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?"  I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...

As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.  

Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team:  Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki. 

Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.

[Dutch Oven]

3 minutes ago, Flugel said:

Way to go Dutch!  I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?"  I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...

As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.  

Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team:  Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki. 

Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.

I seriously considered doing Lee Suggs instead of Kelly, just to watch mjp's brain implode 🤣

[mjp28]

4 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

I seriously considered doing Lee Suggs instead of Kelly, just to watch mjp's brain implode 🤣  Lee Suggs, had to look him up, 8 games and 4 TDs, about 1,000+ yards ?   .....Now Jim Shofner 30 games as a DB,  eh,   DBs don't get mentioned unless they get a mentioned unless  they have a neat nickname.  lol.

Well I was thinking about #44 and who doesn't like Leroy Kelly   except   for one thing he was a Cleveland BROWNS player from  1964 - 1973 and 102 games and he was not Jim Brown the   "GOAT"   the greatest RB or maybe NFL player of all time.  What an impossible player to be compared to as a Cleveland BROWNS player. 

Even as a 14 to 23 year old Cleveland BROWNS fan i thought about the same thing in fact it wasn't until he was almost done as a player.   ALSO  Leroy Kelly was a good rusher  and  receiver which got him in the HOF as a player in his later years.

And comparing him to other players who also wore #44 only Ernest Byner  1984 -1988  40 games comes close and was remembered by  "the fumble "  who was a good rusher.   ● Leroy Kelly numbers as a   rusher and  receiver  are listed below.  His TOTAL rush + rec yards are 9,555 total  plus  MVP  awards.

Rushing & Receiving.     Regular Season

Playoffs

					Games		Rushing							Receiving							Total Yds
Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	A/G	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	Lng	R/G	Y/G	Touch	Y/Tch	YScm	RRTD	Fmb	AV	Awards
Career					136	110	1727	7274	74	70	4.2	53.5	12.7	190	2281	12.0	13	68	1.4	16.8	1917	5.0	9555	87	35	102
1964	22	CLE	RB	44	14	0	6	12	0	5	2.0	0.9	0.4				0				6	2.0	12	0	0	1
1965	23	CLE	RB	44	13	1	37	139	0	16	3.8	10.7	2.8	9	122	13.6	0	52	0.7	9.4	46	5.7	261	0	3	5
1966*+	24	CLE	HB	44	14	14	209	1141	15	70	5.5	81.5	14.9	32	366	11.4	1	40	2.3	26.1	241	6.3	1507	16	1	18	AP MVP-4, UPI MVP-2, AP1, PB
1967*+	25	CLE	HB	44	14	14	235	1205	11	42	5.1	86.1	16.8	20	282	14.1	2	48	1.4	20.1	255	5.8	1487	13	7	16	AP MVP-3, UPI MVP-4, AP1, PB
1968*+	26	CLE	RB	44	14	14	248	1239	16	65	5.0	88.5	17.7	22	297	13.5	4	68	1.6	21.2	270	5.7	1536	20	6	18	AP MVP-2, UPI MVP-2, AP1, PB
1969*	27	CLE	RB	44	13	13	196	817	9	31	4.2	62.8	15.1	20	267	13.4	1	36	1.5	20.5	216	5.0	1084	10	1	11	AP2, PB
1970*	28	CLE	RB	44	13	13	206	656	6	33	3.2	50.5	15.8	24	311	13.0	2	55	1.8	23.9	230	4.2	967	8	3	8	PB
1971*	29	CLE	RB	44	14	14	234	865	10	35	3.7	61.8	16.7	25	252	10.1	2	29	1.8	18.0	259	4.3	1117	12	7	11	PB
1972	30	CLE	RB	44	14	14	224	811	4	18	3.6	57.9	16.0	23	204	8.9	1	28	1.6	14.6	247	4.1	1015	5	4	8
1973	31	CLE	RB	44	13	13	132	389	3	19	2.9	29.9	10.2	15	180	12.0	0	36	1.2	13.8	147	3.9	569	3	3	6

Edited July 29, 2023 by mjp28
Leroy Kelly ..... not Jim Kelly ???

[Dutch Oven]

The train keeps rollin' on, and now we are Mike Pruitt days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Pruitt was the Browns 1st round pick of the 1976 Draft, but he struggled to get on the field his first two seasons. It wasn't until midway through the 1978 season before he became a starter, and he grabbed the job and ran with it. He would be a Pro-Bowler in 1979 and 1980, and ran for 1000 or more yards four times with the Browns. He was a late training camp cut prior to the 1985 season. He had 7378 career rushing yards and 51 touchdowns, and also was a threat as a receiver, with 270 receptions for 1860 yards and another 5 touchdowns. 

 

[mjp28]

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

The train keeps rollin' on, and now we are Mike Pruitt days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Pruitt was the Browns 1st round pick of the 1976 Draft, but he struggled to get on the field his first two seasons. It wasn't until midway through the 1978 season before he became a starter, and he grabbed the job and ran with it. He would be a Pro-Bowler in 1979 and 1980, and ran for 1000 or more yards four times with the Browns. He was a late training camp cut prior to the 1985 season. He had 7378 career rushing yards and 51 touchdowns, and also was a threat as a receiver, with 270 receptions for 1860 yards and another 5 touchdowns. 

 

OK..... looking .... still looking.  Normally I'm looking for some good or interesting or "whatever " on our Cleveland BROWNS players well Mike Pruitt has been a challenge for me up to now.

Pruitt enrolled at Purdue University and played college football as a fullback for the Purdue Boilermakers football teams from 1973 to 1975 ....lHe was known for his combination of speed and strength, having been clocked at 4.4 seconds over 40 yards and bench pressing 425 pounds......that's OK.  Speed, strength.  Ok.

Still looking..... As a senior in 1975, Pruitt gained 899 rushing yards on 217 carries (4.1 yards per carry).  Despite not finishing among the top ten in rushing yardage in the conference, he was selected by the conference coaches as a second-team player on the 1975 All-Big Ten Conference football team, placing behind Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin and Gordon Bell. .....l  Good players, still looking. 

Pruitt was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (seventh overall pick) of the 1976 NFL Draft.^[1] He remained with the Browns from 1976 to 1984.^[1]

In his first two seasons with the Browns, Pruitt saw limited playing time as a backup to Greg Pruitt (no family relationship).^[3] In 1978, Pruitt became a starter mid-season.^[8] He started nine games at fullback and rushed for 560 yards and five touchdowns.^[1]

Peak years: 1979–1983

Following a knee injury to Greg Pruitt,^[3] Pruitt had his breakout season in 1979 when he started all 16 games at fullback and had career highs with 1,294 rushing yards, 4.9 rushing yards per carry, and 1,666 yards from scrimmage. He ranked fifth in the NFL that year in all three categories. At the end of the 1979 season, he was named a first-team all-conference player and was selected to play in the 1979 Pro Bowl ...... GOOD,  still looking ......

1984–1986

In 1984, Boyce Green took over as the Browns' lead running back. Pruitt's playing time declined, as he appeared in 10 games, but only seven as a starter. 

The Browns released Pruitt in early September 1985, as part of the final round of cuts before the start of the regular season.^[13] At the time of his release, Pruitt said he was "surprised, but not bitter."  Part of football,  ok moving on  .....

Career statistics

Pruitt played in 152 games during his career, rushing for 7,378 yards and 51 touchdowns on 1,844 carries (4.0 yards per carry). He also caught 270 passes for 1,860 yards and five touchdowns.^[1] He ranks third in Browns' franchise history in career rushing yardage trailing only Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly GOOD names, moving on .....   

Later years .... ok on to business ventures then *SPLAT* What ?!?!

His normal  .....   Later years ok tell me that again ?

After retiring from football, Pruitt owned a Ford dealership in Lima, Ohio, and a Honda dealership in Akron, Ohio.^[18] He sold his Ford dealership in approximately 2006,^[19] then his Honda dealership in 2014.^[20] As of 2003, he lived in Strongsville, Ohio.^[21]

Pruitt was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.^[21] In 2013, he was named by The Plain Dealer as the 38th best player in Browns' history.^[22] Currently, he serves as a Jehovah's Witness in Cleveland ?   WHAT WAS THAT ???

Still looking for Mike Pruitt. 

●~~~~~~~~~~●     

 

[syd]

hell yes and the countdown continues 

[Dutch Oven]

1 hour ago, syd said:

hell yes and the countdown continues 

I kind of have two reactions to this, and want to share both:

1. It's the turd that won't flush

2. You started a monster! 🤣

[Flugel]

3 hours ago, syd said:

hell yes and the countdown continues 

Syd, You guys have no idea how much a crotchety old bastard like your buddy Flugel loves this stuff. 

[Dutch Oven]

And on the Seventh Day, the Lordth gaveth football, and there was much rejoicing. Yay. Which leads us to Paul Warfield days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Warfield, a Warren, Ohio native, was a halfback/defensive back (and track star) at Ohio State under Woody Hayes, and was taken with the 11th overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by the Browns. The Browns saw him as a wide receiver, and he'd catch 52 balls for the World Champion Browns in his rookie season. (Interestingly enough, that would be the most receptions he would have in a single season in his career). 

As the 60s were ending, Browns QB Bill Nelson's knees were turning to sawdust, so Cleveland traded Warfield to Miami for the 3rd overall pick of the 1970 Draft. They selected Purdue's Mike Phipps, who was perhaps the worst somewhat longterm starting QB in team history, while Warfield thrived in South Florida, helping the Dolphins go to three consecutive Super Bowls (1971-1973), winning two. (Note: An argument can be made that Mike Phipps was part of the worst AND best trades in team history. We know the worst part, but somehow the Browns got a 1978 first rounder out of Chicago for Phipps, used to draft Ozzie Newsome). After the 1974 season Warfield would jump from the Dolphins and the NFL to play in the World Football League in 1975 for Memphis, but the league folded after that one season. He would return to Cleveland in 1976 to play his final two NFL seasons. 

Warfield is still considered by some to be the best or among the best WR to ever play. His 20.1 yards per reception is the highest of any player with 300 or more lifetime catches. He would catch 427 balls for 8,565 yards and 85 touchdowns, go to eight Pro Bowls and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. 

 

[Dutch Oven]

It is also Dutch Oven days until the start of the 2023 season. This dashing young lad wore this uniform in his rookie Pee-Wee season in 1984 for the Ravenna Rams, and the flanker/wingback and middle linebacker would lead the team with a staggering nine yards receiving! (On one catch, the other reception the 3-2-1 Rams had was for two yards. We ran the ball, a lot). He would also score a defensive touchdown in his first game ever that season, falling on a fumble in the opponent's endzone. 

[syd]

17 hours ago, Flugel said:

Syd, You guys have no idea how much a crotchety old bastard like your buddy Flugel loves this stuff. 

it's cool dutch and mj have taken it to a whole new level

[Flugel]

6 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

It is also Dutch Oven days until the start of the 2023 season. This dashing young lad wore this uniform in his rookie Pee-Wee season in 1984 for the Ravenna Rams, and the flanker/wingback and middle linebacker would lead the team with a staggering nine yards receiving! (On one catch, the other reception the 3-2-1 Rams had was for two yards. We ran the ball, a lot). He would also score a defensive touchdown in his first game ever that season, falling on a fumble in the opponent's endzone. 

NICE! I can almost hear Keith Jackson narrating this.  "Oooh by Gollaay!  You better look out - that #42 can really lay a hurtin on ya. You better start blockin him cuz he'll gitchya and he'll hitchya.  My new buddy Jim Croce calls him the football version of Bad, Bad Leroy Brown because he's meaner than a junkyard dawg. They better retire that #42 before he retires you!"

[mjp28]

On 7/30/2023 at 1:45 PM, syd said:

it's cool dutch and mj have taken it to a whole new level

( Patience BROWNS fans,  multiple sources and this one is under construction. )  " The Long/Short Story of Paul Warfield "     Do read it after the many edits.  ▪︎ FINAL EDIT, done.

Oh yes the  "other "  side of just the numbers in football and the players. We like to go to that  whole new level.

Like our    #42  Paul Warfield   he had just graduated from WG Harding a few years ahead of my Freshman year at Niles McKinley HS.  We played the Panthers in the  last  game every season, we knew all about Paul Warfield the very fast player that went on to Ohio State and on to our  Cleveland BROWNS ..... and back.

The Cleveland Browns selected Warfield with the 11th pick of the 1964 NFL Draft. There was some thought for Warfield to play as a defensive back. But during workouts prior to the season, his play as a wide receiver impressed head coach Blanton Collier, and he was converted to the position.  In his rookie season, he caught 52 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 17.8 yards per reception, and his speed served to complement the power of star running back Jim Brown.  The Browns finished the season atop the East Division with a 10–3–1 record, and defeated the Baltimore Colts 27–0 in the 1964 NFL Championship Game.  

Warfield shattered his collarbone and missed the majority of the 1965 season as a result.  Warfield returned to form in 1966, catching 36 passes for 741 yards and five touchdowns, and in 1967 recorded 32 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns. In 1968, Warfield caught 50 passes and for the only time in his career eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, finishing with 1,067. His career-high 12 receiving touchdowns led the league that year.

The Browns again reached the NFL Championship Game, where they were shutout by the Baltimore Colts, 34–0.  [ Who then lost in SB III  to Broadway Joe ! ]  

After another NFL championship game appearance for the Browns and Pro Bowl season for Warfield in 1969, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins for the third pick in the 1970 draft.  The trade came as a shock to Warfield, who had established himself as one of the Browns' most popular players.

★  "I have to admit going to Miami was not a place I desired to go," said Warfield 30 years later.  The Browns used the pick acquired in the trade on Purdue University quarterback Mike Phipps. The trade is considered one of the most lopsided in NFL history, as Phipps had only limited success for the Browns, while Warfield was a major factor in the Dolphins' championships in the early 1970s.

(And also.) Nelsen was a terrible quarterback for Pittsburgh but was very good for Cleveland. However, Nelsen's knee problems made the Browns front office nervous and he was not considered a long-term solution.

After the 1969 season, Art Modell decided he had to make another move. Let's cut out the heart of the team. So he first traded wideout Paul Warfield, (as a young BROWNS fan I was furious at this move )   for the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft, which was used on quarterback Mike Phipps. Phipps would throw 40 TDS in his Browns career versus 81 INTs.

But that is not the end. To replace Warfield, crafty Modell traded 1969 first-round draft pick running back Ron Johnson to the New York Giants, along with starting defensive tackle Jim Kanicki, for superstar wide receiver Homer Jones.

The only problem was that Warfield continued to make Pro Bowls and eventually made All-Pro in 1971, while Homer Jones only caught 10 passes for his Browns career. That's right, 10. Jones had made a living catching balls from ... (NY GIANT) ... Fran Tarkenton, who was famous for scrambling and ad-libbing, with Jones getting open like a teammate in a pickup basketball game. He wasn't good at actually running disciplined patterns like Warfield.

So, after all this, did they actually upgrade the quarterback position? Certainly, Bill Nelsen put up much better numbers in Cleveland than Mike Phipps. Dick Shiner had a higher TD percentage and lower INT percentage for his career than Phipps, even though Shiner played on much less talented teams.  Was Nelsen an upgrade over Shiner? Shiner never played for Cleveland so we cannot say for certain how good he would have been.   Moving Warfield  on to Miami. 

|---> to be continued,  different links ---> 

In 1974, Warfield caught 27 passes for 536 yards and two touchdowns, and was invited to the last of seven consecutive Pro Bowls. The Dolphins again reached the playoffs, this time losing to the Raiders in the divisional round. Through five seasons with the Dolphins, Warfield compiled 156 receptions for 3,355 yards and 33 touchdowns. In 11 playoff games, he caught 34 passes for 717 yards and four touchdowns.  Now  the strange move(s).

Who remembers this move or moves ?   In March 1974, he was selected by the Toronto Northmen in the second round (23rd overall) of the WFL Pro Draft. Prior to the start of the 1974 season, Warfield and teammates Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick made what were then surprising decisions. Tragically, they left the Dolphins at the conclusion of the season for what appeared to be more lucrative pastures with the Northmen of World Football League (WFL). 

The Northmen then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, without playing a game in Toronto, and became the Memphis Southmen. Warfield played the 1975 season with the Memphis Southmen, catching 25 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns.  SO what now ?

SO  how do you remember HOF Paul Warfield as a BROWN or a Dolphin  ?   After the dissolution of the WFL following the 1975 season, Warfield told reporters he would be interested in rejoining the Browns if the Southmen were not admitted into the NFL.^[37] The Southmen were refused admittance, and Warfield was ultimately persuaded to rejoin by Browns owner Art Modell, who felt Warfield would be a valuable asset as both a receiver and in public relations. Warfield played his final two pro football seasons in Cleveland, catching 38 passes for 613 yards and six touchdowns in 1976 and 18 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns in 1977. In his eight years with the Browns, he caught 271 passes for 5,210 yards and 52 touchdowns

In his 13 NFL seasons Warfield caught 427 passes for 8,565 yards for 20.1 yards per catch and scored 85 touchdowns. He added another 204 yards on 22 rushing attempts. In 18 playoff games, he caught 58 passes for 1,121 yards and five touchdowns. His 85 career receiving touchdowns is tied for 15th most in NFL history. and his 20.1 average yards per reception is tied for the fourth highest among players with at least 200 career receptions and the highest among players with at least 300 reception  

At the time of his retirement, his 1,121 postseason receiving yards were the second highest total in NFL history, trailing only Fred Biletnikoff by 46 yards.   What a career for the kid from Warren,  Ohio  born to end up a Buckeye. 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by mjp28
The (complete) Paul Warfield Story by mjp

[Dutch Oven]

We are but three days until the Browns play in the Hall of Fame game, and Ray Ventrone days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns regular season. "Bubba" played high school football just outside Pittsburgh in Bridgeville, and went to Villanova where he was a hard-hitting, hustlin' safety. He went undrafted, but New England signed him as a free agent in 2005 and he had two stints with the Patriots, with a stint with the Jets in-between in the following four seasons. 

In 2009 the Browns signed the free agent special teams player, and signed him to a three year extension the next year, and he responded by being selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. He'd leave the Browns in 2013, playing his last two seasons in San Francisco as their special teams captain.

After Ventrone retired, he became a special teams assistant coach with New England in 2015, then would be named the special teams coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. The Browns would make them their special teams coordinator/assistant head coach in 2023. 

 

[mjp28]

2 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

We are but three days until the Browns play in the Hall of Fame game, and Ray Ventrone days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns regular season. "Bubba" played high school football just outside Pittsburgh in Bridgeville, and went to Villanova where he was a hard-hitting, hustlin' safety. He went undrafted, but New England signed him as a free agent in 2005 and he had two stints with the Patriots, with a stint with the Jets in-between in the following four seasons. 

In 2009 the Browns signed the free agent special teams player, and signed him to a three year extension the next year, and he responded by being selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. He'd leave the Browns in 2013, playing his last two seasons in San Francisco as their special teams captain.

After Ventrone retired, he became a special teams assistant coach with New England in 2015, then would be named the special teams coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. The Browns would make them their special teams coordinator/assistant head coach in 2023. 

 

Relax Dutch there were only 15 guys that ever wore the  #41 and only  ONE had more games than  Ray Ventrone  and he was a TE from (as in born in)  MISSISSIPPI with the nickname  "catfish "   with exactly -0- TDs.... i have no idea whatsoever why .....  EXCEPT I wouldn't want a locker next to his in any direction..... 

SO you're safe there,  I imagine you might have real good picks coming up real soon !    I'll pass it  over to you..... and feel that somehow I need a shower..... soon.        

Edited August 1, 2023 by mjp28
The immortal #41.

[Dutch Oven]

19 hours ago, mjp28 said:

Relax Dutch there were only 15 guys that ever wore the  #41 and only  ONE had more games than  Ray Ventrone  and he was a TE from (as in born in)  MISSISSIPPI with the nickname  "catfish "   with exactly -0- TDs.... i have no idea whatsoever why .....  EXCEPT I wouldn't want a locker next to his in any direction..... 

SO you're safe there,  I imagine you might have real good picks coming up real soon !    I'll pass it  over to you..... and feel that somehow I need a shower..... soon.        

#41 wasn't a bumper crop of choices to pick from, but....

the guy I picked could very well end up being the next Cleveland Browns head coach. 

[Dutch Oven]

Been busy keeping up-to-date with all the Guardians trade moves, but never too busy to remind all you fine people that we are now Dub Jones days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. William "Dub" Jones was a Louisiana native who started college at LSU, then transferred to Tulane due to the WWII era officer training program. He started his pro football career playing for the AAFC Miami Seahawks and Brooklyn (Football) Dodgers, before being traded to the Browns prior to the 1948 season. The tall halfback/flanker was a dual running/receiving threat, and would be named to the NFL Pro Bowl twice. He is the co-holder of the most touchdowns in NFL history when he nabbed six of them vs Chicago in 1951. In his career, which spanned from 1946-55, he would rush for 2210 yards and 21 touchdowns, and add 171 receptions for 2874 yards and another 20 touchdowns.

After his playing career ended, he would return to the Browns as an assistant coach for a handful of years. He is the father of 1976 NFL MVP QB Bert Jones, of the Baltimore Colts. 

 

[Flugel]

2 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

#41 wasn't a bumper crop of choices to pick from, but....

the guy I picked could very well end up being the next Cleveland Browns head coach. 

I saw it earlier but didn't read it yet.  Judging by the reaction of our fans in here when he got hired as the STs Coordinator - people liked him enough as a player to be excited he's back as a coach.  I didn't even know he ever had short hair when I saw your post this morning.  I used to get a kick out him flying down the field with that Billy Ray Cyrus hairdo coming out of his helmet.  The only thing missing was the shit kickers.  

[Dutch Oven]

57 minutes ago, Flugel said:

I saw it earlier but didn't read it yet.  Judging by the reaction of our fans in here when he got hired as the STs Coordinator - people liked him enough as a player to be excited he's back as a coach.  I didn't even know he ever had short hair when I saw your post this morning.  I used to get a kick out him flying down the field with that Billy Ray Cyrus hairdo coming out of his helmet.  The only thing missing was the shit kickers.  

It also didn't hurt that the special teams under Pfeifer were hot garbage, so getting a ST coach who was considered "not hot garbage" was nice. 😄

[Flugel]

8 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

It also didn't hurt that the special teams under Pfeifer were hot garbage, so getting a ST coach who was considered "not hot garbage" was nice. 😄

Definitely that!  1 final cleanse. "Okay, do we have all 12 of ya?  Make it happen!"  

[Dutch Oven]

We are barely 24 hours from the kickoff to the Browns preseason, and only Tashaun Gipson days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns regular season. Gipson was an undrafted free agent picked up by the Browns out of Wyoming in 2012, and he's still playing! Gipson played with the Browns for four seasons (2012-15), being named to the Pro Bowl in 2014. After the Browns, the safety played for Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago and currently with San Francisco. He has 32 career interceptions, and 3 defensive touchdowns. 

 

[mjp28]

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

We are barely 24 hours from the kickoff to the Browns preseason, and only Tashaun Gipson days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns regular season. Gipson was an undrafted free agent picked up by the Browns out of Wyoming in 2012, and he's still playing! Gipson played with the Browns for four seasons (2012-15), being named to the Pro Bowl in 2014. After the Browns, the safety played for Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago and currently with San Francisco. He has 32 career interceptions, and 3 defensive touchdowns. 

 

From an UFA to some pretty good numbers  ..... not bad at all.  I'll take that. 

[Dutch Oven]

22 minutes ago, mjp28 said:

From an UFA to some pretty good numbers  ..... not bad at all.  I'll take that. 

The next few days are a little on the light side of "Browns greats", but you'll have that. It will pick up this weekend

 

[mjp28]

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

The next few days are a little on the light side of "Browns greats", but you'll have that. It will pick up this weekend

 

That's  TRUE ......  then it should pick up a lot in the mid to lower #30's  I think we all can count on that  BIG time including a GOAT or two.      

[Flugel]

11 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

We are barely 24 hours from the kickoff to the Browns preseason, and only Tashaun Gipson days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns regular season. Gipson was an undrafted free agent picked up by the Browns out of Wyoming in 2012, and he's still playing! Gipson played with the Browns for four seasons (2012-15), being named to the Pro Bowl in 2014. After the Browns, the safety played for Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago and currently with San Francisco. He has 32 career interceptions, and 3 defensive touchdowns. 

 

Looking at his career volume of INTs and TDs - can you imagine how many he had in practice against some of the names on that QB T-shirt?   He had to be thinking "Here Comes Santa Claus" all practice.  This place should have been the recruiting capital for Undrafted FA DBs looking to make a team.  Gipson knew what he was doing coming here.

Meanwhile, I can't help but thinking ahead to the number on my avatar.  @syd shared a 23 minute highlight video of him from 1973 to 1976 in a thread earlier this year.  Ever since, and I mean this in a good way, I put Sydsies in the Cleveland Browns football junkie category.   That's only 1 one of the gems we had that wore #34 though...

[syd]

12 hours ago, Flugel said:

Looking at his career volume of INTs and TDs - can you imagine how many he had in practice against some of the names on that QB T-shirt?   He had to be thinking "Here Comes Santa Claus" all practice.  This place should have been the recruiting capital for Undrafted FA DBs looking to make a team.  Gipson knew what he was doing coming here.

Meanwhile, I can't help but thinking ahead to the number on my avatar.  @syd shared a 23 minute highlight video of him from 1973 to 1976 in a thread earlier this year.  Ever since, and I mean this in a good way, I put Sydsies in the Cleveland Browns football junkie category.   That's only 1 one of the gems we had that wore #34 though...

32 mins to kickoff and unfortunately there will not be a #34 on the field tonight for The Browns

[Dutch Oven]

Less than 30 minutes from the start of the 2023 Browns season, and Antonio Langham days until the Browns and Bengals kickoff the regular season. Langham was an All-American cornerback at Alabama, in fact, he still holds the record for most career interceptions for the Crimson Tide with 19. The Browns selected the corner in the first round (#9 overall) and he was a solid player for the team for his first two seasons. Then Modell moved the team, and Langham moved with them to Baltimore, playing there for two more seasons. Eventually the Browns would select Langham in the 1999 expansion draft, and he would be one of two players (OTackle Orlando Brown being the other) who would play for the original Browns AND the expansion Browns.