~ AND ~ ? only 204 days and now 92 ? 57 ? 32 ? 19 ? YES really ! And still counting... ? ....?
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Vince Costello was a good player from the older Cleveland BROWNS 1957-1966 era. A solid pick.
I had a favorite from the Woody Hays and OHIO STATE years and later a Cleveland BROWNS player from 1982-1985 and only 38 games Tom Cousineau. A lot of Buckeyes football in a short time.
....... edit add ... my mother when I was a kid had friends from Magnolia, I never forgot that name.
ALSO Cousineau is a volunteer with the Akron Hoban high school football team.
● AND.... I had to look this one up ....... why the shorter NFL career for a #1 pick....... Cousineau was drafted first overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, who acquired the pick as a part of a package of five draft picks from the San Francisco 49ers in a 1978 trade for O. J. Simpson.[13] However, he never played a game for the Bills. He instead signed with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, who signed him for double the money originally offered by the Bills. Cousineau became a star for the Alouettes, becoming the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player in the 1979 season. He only played in four games in his third season because of an elbow injury while the Alouettes collapsed.[9]
In 1982, Cousineau wanted to return to the NFL, choosing to forego two optional years with the Alouettes. The Houston Oilers attempted to sign him, but the Bills (who still held Cousineau's NFL rights) matched the offer. Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell had long been interested in signing him.[9] Cousineau was then traded from the Bills to the Cleveland Browns for a first-round draft choice (14th overall) in the 1983 NFL Draft, plus a second and a third draft choice in subsequent years.[14] That first-round pick was used on future Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. Cousineau signed a five-year contract for $2.5 million, the highest contract ever at the time by the Browns.
~ NOW here's a classic BROWNS LB picture from 1983. Chip Banks, Clay Matthews, Dick Ambrose and Tom Cousineau. Only $499 from Getty pictures who has copyrighted everything out there ..... now.
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i did and it was a great stay,i could get used to lake life
Awesome! I know exactly what you mean about the lake life Syd!
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I found this Tom Cousineau story interesting with the .... Bills, CFL, Houston, BROWNS, SF ...... and so what was the HOT in demand #1 pick in the entire 1979 NFL Draft actually worth ? So let's follow the money and see ...... (right up mjp's alley). A #1 pick would be from $20-$30+ Million/ year today. Mayfield got $33M. From OSU Marketing major Tom Cousineau himself .
.......Tom Cousineau's major while an he was an undergraduate at Ohio State was marketing, which is appropriate, for Cousineau has marketed his football skills as well as any professional athlete. Although he has never played a down in the National Football League, Cousineau has a starting position - weakside inside linebacker - waiting for him, along with a salary reported to be $500,000 a year, which will make him one of the highest paid players in the National Football League.
After Buffalo made Cousineau the first player taken in the 1979 N.F.L. draft, he spurned the Bills and played for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. The Alouettes had paid him $150,000 a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. He became a free agent last March and, after seven weeks of weighing many inquiries, Cousineau signed a five-year contract reported to be worth $3.5 million with the Browns.
'It Worked for Me'
I guess it did Tom and Art Modell and the BROWNS too. Five year 3.5M deal or $700,000/ year. ( I always wanted him as a Cleveland BROWNS player .... eventually. )
AND the Bills got Jim Kelly in the now famous 1983 quarterback class trade for Cousineau plus two additional picks. They ended up happy with that deal. SF got OJ, eh ?
What a deal. (Nice topic syd, it all starts with an individual jersey number)
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I found this Tom Cousineau story interesting with the .... Bills, CFL, Houston, BROWNS, SF ...... and so what was the HOT in demand #1 pick in the entire 1979 NFL Draft actually worth ? So let's follow the money and see ...... (right up mjp's alley). A #1 pick would be from $20-$30+ Million/ year today. Mayfield got $33M. From OSU Marketing major Tom Cousineau himself .
.......Tom Cousineau's major while an he was an undergraduate at Ohio State was marketing, which is appropriate, for Cousineau has marketed his football skills as well as any professional athlete. Although he has never played a down in the National Football League, Cousineau has a starting position - weakside inside linebacker - waiting for him, along with a salary reported to be $500,000 a year, which will make him one of the highest paid players in the National Football League.
After Buffalo made Cousineau the first player taken in the 1979 N.F.L. draft, he spurned the Bills and played for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. The Alouettes had paid him $150,000 a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. He became a free agent last March and, after seven weeks of weighing many inquiries, Cousineau signed a five-year contract reported to be worth $3.5 million with the Browns.
'It Worked for Me'
I guess it did Tom and Art Modell and the BROWNS too. Five year 3.5M deal or $700,000/ year. ( I always wanted him as a Cleveland BROWNS player .... eventually. )
AND the Bills got Jim Kelly in the now famous 1983 quarterback class trade for Cousineau plus two additional picks. They ended up happy with that deal. SF got OJ, eh ?
What a deal. (Nice topic syd, it all starts with an individual jersey number)
I found this Tom Cousineau story interesting with the .... Bills, CFL, Houston, BROWNS, SF ...... and so what was the HOT in demand #1 pick in the entire 1979 NFL Draft actually worth ? So let's follow the money and see ...... (right up mjp's alley). A #1 pick would be from $20-$30+ Million/ year today. Mayfield got $33M. From OSU Marketing major Tom Cousineau himself .
.......Tom Cousineau's major while an he was an undergraduate at Ohio State was marketing, which is appropriate, for Cousineau has marketed his football skills as well as any professional athlete. Although he has never played a down in the National Football League, Cousineau has a starting position - weakside inside linebacker - waiting for him, along with a salary reported to be $500,000 a year, which will make him one of the highest paid players in the National Football League.
After Buffalo made Cousineau the first player taken in the 1979 N.F.L. draft, he spurned the Bills and played for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. The Alouettes had paid him $150,000 a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. He became a free agent last March and, after seven weeks of weighing many inquiries, Cousineau signed a five-year contract reported to be worth $3.5 million with the Browns.
'It Worked for Me'
I guess it did Tom and Art Modell and the BROWNS too. Five year 3.5M deal or $700,000/ year. ( I always wanted him as a Cleveland BROWNS player .... eventually. )
AND the Bills got Jim Kelly in the trade for Cousineau plus two additional picks. They ended up happy with that deal. SF got OJ, eh ?
What a deal. (Nice topic syd, it all starts with an individual jersey number)
Interesting story!
My guy tomorrow has an interesting trade story too.... stay tuned!
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
Well done Dutch! Any RB that impressed Jim Brown was worthy of high praise; and the numbers you shared support the respect he earned. The way his career unfolded sounds very similar to the way Eric Metcalf's career went. Metcalf became far more effective as a slot receiver after Cleveland than the Browns ever allowed him to be as a RB. It would have been nice if the Browns had the wherewithal to try using him in the slot where access to open fields was easier. Mitchell was a better RB than Metcalf as was Leroy Hoard when he finally got the chance to start.
Poor Ernie Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia before his NFL career ever had a chance to launch. It almost makes you wonder if the Washington Redskins knew he had Leukemia before they traded the guy they selected 1st overall to Cleveland. Seems weird a guy would go from that gotta-have to let's trade him (unless there was something scary going on with his health like unexplained weight loss or an onset nose bleeds).
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
First no doubt on the HOF Class of 1983 #49 Bobby Mitchell as a player with Cleveland or Washington.
Second there are absolutely no real notable players on the Cleveland BROWNS that have ever worn the #49.
NOW the important stuff, after the 1961 season I was 11 going on 12 during the 1962 season - but - wait- my Cleveland BROWNS traded #49 Bobby Mitchell to the Washington Redskins WHAT ! THEY CANT DO THAT ! How can you break up the Greatest 1-2 punch running game on earth with the Greatest JIM BROWN + Bobby Mitchell. Take it back. Why ? (and i never liked the Redskins after that)
Well I was young back then and in time I would understand and get over it ...... yeah maybe 20 or 30 years, lol. And the BROWNS did win it all in 1964 but my next crushed psyche attack was coming up when I was 14 .... JIM BROWN RETIRES at the top of his career, 9 years. Led the NFL in rushing 8 of 9 years. Why ? HE CANT DO THAT !
Our beloved Cleveland BROWNS who needs a shrink ? GO BROWNS !
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Perhaps you are feeling persecuted, like there is an evil conspiracy to do you in... Well fear not! Throw off your tin foil hat and rejoice, for we are Ernie Green days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Another excellent Browns running back that gets overshadowed by his teammate, Green was a 14th round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1962, but was traded by Vince Lombardi to the Browns in training camp. Green would play sparingly for the Browns his rookie season, but would be the replacement the Browns were looking for to fill the departed Bobby Mitchell. When Jim Brown retired after the 1965 season, Green slid in to his fullback position, and went to two consecutive Pro Bowls. Injured during a 1968 preseason game, he played little that season, and would retire shortly after. Green rushed for 3204 yards and 15 touchdowns, and added 195 receptions for 2036 yards and another 20 touchdowns.
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First, wlll #48 Ernie Green like the previous #49 but just good but not a real BIG standout name. He's no Jim Brown or Bobby Mitchell -but- who is ?
And second like #49 there are no other players even close to Ernie Green's numbers. Well here they are NOT spectacular but good enough. ( I was worried that we might have our first no winner ! OMG. and No pictures. ( and like magic his ink switched from black to red ĺ.
Good but not great in Cleveland, Ohio.
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 89 76 668 3204 15 73 4.8 36.0 7.5 195 2036 10.4 20 69 2.2 22.9 863 6.1 5240 35 11 60 1962 24 CLE HB 48 13 4 31 139 0 45 4.5 10.7 2.4 17 194 11.4 1 65 1.3 14.9 48 6.9 333 1 2 4 1963 25 CLE HB 48 14 12 87 526 0 73 6.0 37.6 6.2 28 305 10.9 3 35 2.0 21.8 115 7.2 831 3 2 9 1964 26 CLE HB 48 14 14 109 491 6 37 4.5 35.1 7.8 25 283 11.3 4 32 1.8 20.2 134 5.8 774 10 1 10 1965 27 CLE HB 48 13 13 111 436 2 41 3.9 33.5 8.5 25 298 11.9 2 69 1.9 22.9 136 5.4 734 4 3 8 1966* 28 CLE FB 48 14 14 144 750 3 35 5.2 53.6 10.3 45 445 9.9 6 31 3.2 31.8 189 6.3 1195 9 2 14 PB 1967* 29 CLE FB 48 13 12 145 710 4 59 4.9 54.6 11.2 39 369 9.5 2 41 3.0 28.4 184 5.9 1079 6 1 11 PB 1968 30 CLE RB 48 8 7 41 152 0 14 3.7 19.0 5.1 16 142 8.9 2 62 2.0 17.8 57 5.2 294 2 0 4 -
The journey to the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns continues on, seeing that it is Fullback Lawrence Vickers days until the Browns kickoff vs the Bengals. Vickers was a sixth rounder in 2006 out of Colorado, and took over the starting fullback position in 2007, helping Jamal Lewis have a very good year. The next season, Vickers would be a Pro Bowl alternate at fullback. Strange Vickers fact: He scored three touchdowns for the Browns - all pass receptions vs the Steelers.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
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We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
That is TRUE ..... even though I read an article that had them in the same plan to run the football. Hmmm, I digress there. Made a good HOF story though.
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We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.
The only other #46 would be on a asterisk *Lou Groza from 1946-1949 -and- 1950-1951 before switching to #76 for the rest of his fine career. Just to complete his #46 days:
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Games 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Scoring Scoring Kickoffs Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM Lng FG% XPA XPM XP% KO KOYds TB TB% KOAvg AV Awards 1946 22 CLE C 46 14 5 2.07 0.93 44.8% 3.36 3.21 95.7% 1947 23 CLE RT 46 12 5 1.58 0.58 36.8% 3.50 3.25 92.9% 1948 24 CLE LT 46 14 14 1.36 0.57 42.1% 3.71 3.64 98.1% 1949 25 CLE LT 46 12 12 0.75 0.17 22.2% 2.92 2.83 97.1% 1950* 26 CLE LT 46 10 8 1.90 1.30 68.4% 2.90 2.90 100.0% PB 1951* 27 CLE LT 46 12 12 1.92 0.83 43.5% 3.58 3.58 100.0% PB 1952*+ 28 CLE LT 76 12 12 2.75 1.58 57.6% 2.67 2.67 100.0% AP1, PB 1953*+ 29 CLE LT 76 12 -
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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