~ AND ~ ? only 204 days and now 92 ? 57 ? 32 ? 19 ? YES really ! And still counting... ? ....?
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The steady march toward the start of the 2023 Cleveland Brown season continues, as we are now Walter Johnson amount of days left. Johnson was another very good Browns defensive tackle, a 1965 second round pick and a three time Pro-Bowler with 68 career sacks who played a good chunk of the 70s next to Jerry Sherk. After his football career ended, Johnson became a professional wrestler, who occasionally wrestled bears, because why not?
The steady march toward the start of the 2023 Cleveland Brown season continues, as we are now Walter Johnson amount of days left. Johnson was another very good Browns defensive tackle, a 1965 second round pick and a three time Pro-Bowler with 68 career sacks who played a good chunk of the 70s next to Jerry Sherk. After his football career ended, Johnson became a professional wrestler, who occasionally wrestled bears, because why not?
Awesome stuff! These back to back guys you treated us to, Sherk (#72) & Johnson (#71) were mentioned in my 1st visit to Cleveland for a game. They dominated Pittsburgh's OL, inclusive of double teams that included Mike Webster. What kind of sick bastard wants to wrestle a bear? Anyway, here's a story I found about those 2 (and their DL) you might get a kick out of via the following cut and paste:
Written by Greg Popelka
The Cleveland Browns of the late 1960s and early 1970s were solemnly important to a kid like me. They had recently been at the mountaintop of the NFL. The deep, serious voice of Gib Shanley injected an air of gravitas into the Browns radio broadcasts. And some of the players seemed bigger than life.One of the pillars of the Cleveland Browns defense was big Walter Johnson.
The Browns’ overall defense was okay… The defensive backs were solid; guys like Erich Barnes were giving way to younger studs like Thom Darden (and no, it wasn’t a requirement then that you had to insert an “H” into your first name to be noteworthy). The linebackers were smallish and while strength was not their strong suit, they were quick. The defensive line, however, was another story. #81 Jack Gregory. #72 Jerry Sherk. #71 Walter Johnson. #80 Joe Jones. Long-time Browns offensive tackle and announcer Doug Dieken is on record as saying this D line was maybe the best the Browns have ever had.
Joe Jones‘ nickame, “Turkey”, was famously given to him by Browns veterans in his second year with the team. Every November, the rookies would be given instructions to go pick up some free turkeys on their off-day. The directions were bogus, and there were no free turkeys. Joe Jones fell for it as a rookie. &feature=related" style="color:#cc0000" rel="external nofollow">He also fell for it his second year.
Turkey Jones was a quick edge rusher, and authored the signature hit of the Browns-Steelers rivalry
&feature=related" style="color:#cc0000" rel="external nofollow">when he dumped quarterback Terry Bradshaw on his head at the bleachers end of the home stadium field.Jack Gregory was the end on the right side, and had the ability to produce sacks as well. He had 14 of them in 1970. Prior to the 1973 season, he was the principal in a trade to the NY Giants for draft picks which netted WR Steve Holden and RB Greg Pruitt.
Jerry Sherk? An all-time Cleveland Brown. Not only was he the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1976, and a 4 time Pro Bowler, but he "gets it" when it comes to what the Browns mean to their fans. A separate essay will be needed to do justice to Jerry Sherk. Sherk continues to be a part of the fabric of Cleveland.
Walter Johnson followed long-timer Dick Modzelewski as left defensive tackle on the Browns. He was Jerry Sherk’s partner on the inside, and together they formed the top defensive tackle combination in the National Football League. The 6’4”, 265lb native Cincinnatian was tough and imposing yet quick off the ball; he was known to some as “Zoom.” He was also durable enough to string together 168 straight games played during the era of the 14 game season. Here’s some footage of Number 71 in action-
&NR=1" style="color:#cc0000" rel="external nofollow">begin viewing at the 6:20 point. (This game marked the first return of Paul Brown to Cleveland, and was controversial due to PB not shaking Cleveland coach Blanton Collier’s hand at midfield when it was over -regrettably, the YouTube footage only shows Collier walking off the field. Collier shrugged it off, and PB told the press that they’d greeted each other prior to the game.)http://tcf.danwismar.com/images/stories/Walter_Johnson_football_card.jpgWalter Johnson was not one to back down from a fight on the field. According to Jerry Sherk, he even intimidated his own teammates. From Sherk, on www.brownsbacker.com:
“When I came (to) the Browns, Walter Johnson…was not only the guy I teamed up with at tackle, but he was the alpha male of the Browns. Guys were in awe of him, because of his strength--he could actually hurt people in practice and in the games. My first game was the first Monday Night Game ever. Each player got 4 free tickets, and I was only going to use 2. Walter knew it and asked if he could buy my other 2. I said yes and gave him the tickets. He didn't give me the money, and I was so intimidated by him that I never asked.
His strength was legendary on the team. There was a story going around that once Jim Brown called a team meeting, and he was chastising the team for their poor play. During the meeting he said, "And if you don't like what I'm saying I'll kick your ass, and I can kick anyone's ass on the team." Then he looked over at Walter and said in a lower voice, "Except maybe for you, Walter!"“
http://tcf.danwismar.com/images/stories/Walter_Johnson_Wrestling.jpgWalter Johnson also mixed it up in the professional wrestling ring. As early as 1968, local crowd favorite Johnny Powers began booking him as a celebrity draw in such venues as the Akron Armory, the Cleveland Arena and Cobo Arena, adjacent to Cobo Hall in Detroit. Johnson would wear his number 71 jersey to his wrestling matches. He sometimes outweighed his opponents by eighty pounds. He moved up the ranks, conquering such foes as the Masked Destroyer and the Love Brothers, moving up to such notables as The Sheik. Wrestlers remembered matches with Johnson as particularly painful. Slaps to the head and being launched into the ropes were a prelude to Johnson’s gentlest, yet most agonizing, final move: a bear hug. Powers later lamented Johnson’s clumsiness, but noted he was a good guy who didn’t cause trouble.
Walter Johnson died of a heart attack at age 56, in 1999- just days after Browns legend Marion Motley. He lived long enough to see Art Modell move the Browns out of Cleveland. "It's as if someone went into my personal biography and took out 11 years of my life and ripped it right out of my book," Johnson said to NBC's Dick Enberg.
No, they're still there, Mr. Johnson, sir.
Thank you for reading.
http://tcf.danwismar.com/images/stories/walter_johnson_vs_cowboys.jpg
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So I confirmed what I've suspected for a week or so, somewhere along the line we got ahead of ourselves.
As of today, the Browns season is 70 days away. We'll pick this up tomorrow with 69 days to go.
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~ AND the very next man up wearing the #69 up is none other than the rugged 6'4" 270 lb Jim Kanicki.
James Henry Kanicki (born December 17, 1941 .... just 10 days after Pearl Harbor and the USA's entry into WWII ) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1963 NFL Draft. Kanicki was also selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
He also played on the 1964 and last Cleveland's last NFL Championship team.
His father worked for 50 years at a foundry in Saginaw, Michigan.
Kanicki was one of 12 children, including 10 brothers.
● OH MY ! Mother Kanicki would scramble SIX dozen eggs, what a family !
︎ The 10 brothers all slept in one room.
︎ The family was so large that Kanick’s mother would scramble six dozen eggs for breakfast. ●
Kanicki attended Bay City Central High School, graduating in 1959.
In 1958, Kanicki helped Bay City Central High School win the Michigan state championship.
He was named first team All-State in 1958.
While many major colleges offered Kanicki a scholarship, he decided to stay close to home.
︎ And in another note .... Jim Kanicki purchased the Arthur Louis Steel Company of Ashtabula, Ohio in 1985, and still maintains control of the business.
In 2012, the Cleveland Plain Dealer named Jim Kanicki one of the Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players.
* I got to know Jim while I was also working in the steel industry, he was a very nice and a good man to do business with. I wouldn't doubt one bit that came from his upbringing.
---> And he was also known for the scariest football card picture in the game !
-----> edit add 2 .... did you know that big Jim Kanicki was the biggest player on the 1964 NFL CHAMPIONSHIP team with one other player at 270 lbs ? My what a generation or two makes. Carry on.
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So I confirmed what I've suspected for a week or so, somewhere along the line we got ahead of ourselves.
As of today, the Browns season is 70 days away. We'll pick this up tomorrow with 69 days to go.
So I confirmed what I've suspected for a week or so, somewhere along the line we got ahead of ourselves.
As of today, the Browns season is 70 days away. We'll pick this up tomorrow with 69 days to go.
Or mjp can just go ahead and post a day early...
Sorry ..... old habits are just hard to break, sometimes .....
..... and the Cleveland GUARDIANS 8 Chicago Cubs 6 in 10 innings.
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Hard to believe, but Training Camp will be starting soon, and we are only Robert Jackson days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Jackson was an interesting story. The 6'2', 255lb offensive guard, who only missed two games in his eleven season career - all with the Browns (1975-1985) - started his college career at Duke as a QB! He kept filling out, eventually becoming a starting offensive tackle for the Blue Devils. Perhaps because of his strange route to the offensive line, he went undrafted in 1975, back when the NFL Draft was 17 rounds! The Browns saw something in him to invite him to training camp, and not only did he make the team, he was starting at right guard in the middle of the season. He'd end up starting at both guard positions for the rest of his career. He would join Doug Dieken after he retired in selling insurance.
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Even for a team around since 1946, you'll get a jersey number where you look at those who have worn it for the Browns in their history and say "Who the hell are these guys?". Well boys and girls, we are now Austin Pasztor days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Pasztor, a Canadian-born lad who played at the University of Virginia, was claimed off waivers by the Browns from Jacksonville at the start of the 2015 season, and ended up starting four games. In 2016 Mitchell Schwartz would leave the Browns in free agency, and Pasztor would take over his RT starting job, starting the first 15 games of season there, before sliding over to the guard spot for the last game of the season. Austin would leave the Browns after the season, bounce around in Atlanta and Tennessee before retiring.
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~ And next at #66 should be another Cleveland BROWNS greatest OL of all time. He paid quite a price for all of his and the Cleveland BROWNS running backs that he played in front of records and accolades ..... and they all know that.
Robert Gene Hickerson (February 15, 1935 – October 20, 2008) was an American professional football player who was an offensive guard for 15 years with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1973. Hickerson was a six-time Pro Bowler from 1965 to 1970. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4, 2007.
Collegiate career
Hickerson was born in Trenton, Tennessee located in Gibson County, but played fullback at Trezevant High School in neighboring Carroll County. Hickerson became a tackle at Ole Miss. He was considered] one of the best offensive linemen in Southeastern Conference history at the end of his collegiate career.
Professional career
Gene was drafted in the seventh round of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Browns. He was promptly shifted to the guard position on the offensive line in 1958 to better utilize his speed. He was used as a "messenger" guard by Coach Paul Brown, or a guard that delivered the plays in the huddle, while blocking for Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. But after three seasons in the league, he broke his leg in 1961 and fractured the leg again later in the season while watching a game from the sidelines.
After missing two games in 1962, he recovered from the injury and never missed another game in his professional tenure. Hickerson only earned accolades after Jim Brown had retired and he was blocking for Leroy Kelly, but he earned first-team all-NFL honors five straight seasons from 1966 to 1970 and was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1971.
★ During his career, Hickerson's Browns never experienced a losing season and was a starter in four NFL title games, including a 1964 NFL Championship win over the Baltimore Colts 27–0. During Gene's 10 pro seasons, the Browns featured a 1,000-yard rusher every season but one in the era where the NFL season consisted of 14 games. They also had the NFL's leading rusher seven seasons of those ten. He was elected to the Browns' legends team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. In 2003, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class. [1]
★ In 2007, during his induction at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and already suffering from the health problems that plagued the final years of his life, including dementia, Hickerson was brought onstage in his wheelchair, propelled by Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly. It was announced as ? "one last time, Gene Hickerson leads Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly." He was inducted by his friend and former teammate at The University of Mississippi and the Cleveland Browns, Bobby Franklin.
Death ?
On October 20, 2008, Hickerson died just outside Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns added a "GH" tribute badge to their helmets for the 2008 season in his honor. he died at 10:20 AM
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Well smack me in the face and call me an ugly woman, but we are Eric Steinbach days away from the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Steinbach was a 2nd round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals from Iowa, and started nearly every game for them between 2003-06. He then signed one of the biggest free agent contacts for an OLinemen at the time with the Browns, starting for four years at Left Guard, until a back injury prior to the 2011 effectively ended his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a Brown in 2008.
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Summer keeps marching on, and we are now Ryan Pontbriand days from the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Pontbriand holds the distinction of being the highest drafted long snapper in NFL history, when he was selected in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft from Rice. The draft pick was amusing to many, but he was an excellent snapper, being named to the Pro Bowl two years running in 2007 and 2008. He was released during the 2011 season by the Browns, and would retire the next year.
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We are damn near at the two month mark, as we are Cody Risien amount of days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Risien was an imposing OLineman for the Browns from 1979 to 1989, standing at 6'7" and weighing 290 lbs. Drafted from Texas A&M in the seventh round, he would start ten games his rookie season at Left Guard, then move to Right Tackle in 1980, where he would remain for the rest of his career. He would be named to the Pro-Bowl in back-to-back seasons of 1986 and 1987. Risien would retire after the end of the 1989 season.
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Another day closer to the football! We are now Cliff Lewis days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Now, you might ask, "Hey Dutch, who in tarnations is Cliff Lewis?". Well, allow me to retort... Cliff Lewis is the answer to one of the best Browns trivia questions ever: "Who was the starting QB for the Browns first regular season game in franchise history?" That's right, it was Cliff Lewis!
Lewis was born in Cleveland, raised in Lakewood, and would go to Duke University, where he'd play for a bit before enlisting in the Navy at the tail end of WWII. After he discharged, he signed with the new Cleveland AAFC team, and because Otto Graham was late in also discharging from the Navy, Lewis got the first two starts in Browns regular season history. His 19 yard touchdown pass to Mac Speedie vs the Miami Seahawks in '46 were the first official points in team history. He would backup Graham for years after, and also played a lot of defensive back, collecting nine interceptions in 1948, 30 total in his career. He would retire after the 1951 season, get into the insurance business, and even did color commentary on Browns games in 1961 and '62.
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I can't believe that we've chewed through almost 140 days of this thread... A thread that honestly I thought Sid was nuts to start, that has turned into a fun little exercise.
So we are now at Steve Everitt amount of days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. A first round pick of the Browns out of TSUN, Everitt was the 14th pverall pick. A solid center, he only played for the Browns for three seasons, but for many Browns fans who were around for the team getting ripped out of Cleveland, he'll never be forgotten for what he did while in Baltimore in 1996.
As a protest of the Browns move, Everitt stood on the sideline during the national anthem the next year wearing his Ravens uniform, and a Cleveland Browns bandana. Maybe coincidentally, this was the only year he played in Baltimore, he would play three seasons in Philadelphia (1997-99) and one more in 2000 with the St. Louis Rams.
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We're officially less than two months from the start of the Browns season, as we are now Mike Johnson amount of days until the Browns kickoff with the Bengals. Johnson, a teammate of Bruce Smith's at Virginia Tech, played in the USFL before the Browns picked him up, and he quietly was one of the best linebackers in Browns history, going to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1989 and '90.
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We're officially less than two months from the start of the Browns season, as we are now Mike Johnson amount of days until the Browns kickoff with the Bengals. Johnson, a teammate of Bruce Smith's at Virginia Tech, played in the USFL before the Browns picked him up, and he quietly was one of the best linebackers in Browns history, going to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1989 and '90.
We're officially less than two months from the start of the Browns season, as we are now Mike Johnson amount of days until the Browns kickoff with the Bengals. Johnson, a teammate of Bruce Smith's at Virginia Tech, played in the USFL before the Browns picked him up, and he quietly was one of the best linebackers in Browns history, going to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1989 and '90.
it is also my 59th birthday
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We're officially less than two months from the start of the Browns season, as we are now Mike Johnson amount of days until the Browns kickoff with the Bengals. Johnson, a teammate of Bruce Smith's at Virginia Tech, played in the USFL before the Browns picked him up, and he quietly was one of the best linebackers in Browns history, going to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1989 and '90.
it is also my 59th birthday
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Well Happy BDay buddy!
cool we are headed to lost lake and thank you
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