By the late twenties, the Dayton Triangles were one of the league's doormats, winning just five of their 51 NFL contests from 1923–29. Only the revenues from playing on the road kept them afloat. Also around this time, the NFL began shaking off its roots in mid-sized midwestern cities. Although the Triangles were one of only three original NFL teams (along with the Bears and Cardinals) to survive the 1920s, it soon became apparent that Dayton was not big enough to support a team in the burgeoning league. Finally, on July 12, 1930, a Brooklyn-based syndicate headed by Bill Dwyer bought the Triangles; the franchise moved to Brooklyn and was renamed the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jack Deplerwas a co-owner and new coach of the Dodgers who had been a coach-player for the NFL's Orange Tornadoes. He took most of the members of the 1929 Tornadoes with him for the new Dodgers team.

Lineage[edit]

Due to numerous transactions over the years, the Triangles have a tenuous connection to the current NFL. The Dodgers merged with the Boston Yanks franchise for the 1945 season due to player shortages. In 1946, the Brooklyn half jumped to the AAFC and played as the New York Yankees. The Boston Yanks remained in the NFL, and in 1949 moved to New York and became the New York Bulldogs. Also in 1949, the AAFC Yankees merged with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played as the Brooklyn-New York Yankees. When the AAFC merged with the NFL, the Yankees players were divided between the New York Giants and the New York Bulldogs.

A failure at the box office, the Bulldogs were "sold back" to the NFL in 1952 and awarded to a group from Texas, who moved it to Dallas for the 1952 season as the Dallas Texans. The Texans failed after one year and were again sold back to the NFL, who folded the Texans franchise. Its remains were awarded to an ownership group in Baltimore to form the Baltimore Colts. The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 and are still playing as the Indianapolis Colts. The NFL currently does not consider the Colts to be a continuation of any of its past incarnations, including the Triangles.

@the-gipper said:

Here is trivia all about the Browns vs. the Colts:

I let this get by without doing a second chance Saloon. So, never mind. Give the answers here:

1. A. What is the all time regular season record, Browns vs. Colts?

Colts and Browns are even up.....14 -14.   You can say that this is the rubber match.

B. What is the post season record between the two?

They are even here as well....2-2

2. What were the results the last time that the Browns and Colts met in the postseason?

The 1987 postseason,  Browns won division game by 38-21

3. What 2 teams have the Colts played the most in postseason play?

The Steelers and the Patriots.  5 times each  (by the way....I asked this question last week about the Ravens...and it was the same two teams)

4. What was unusual about the Colts very first postseason game they played?

It was the "Greatest Game ever played"  The 1958 NFL Championship game.  It was the very first NFL game to go into overtime. (going back to 1933 no game had ever ended in a tie after regulation)

5. What 2 RBs that have led the Colts in rushing for a season also played for the Browns?

Trent Richardson and Curtis Dickey

6. What WR that led the Colts in receiving a couple of times also played for the Browns?

Reggie Langhorne

7. Name the 3 Colts players in history that have made the most Pro Bowl appearances.

Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, and Gino Marchetti

8. Name the two players who made the Pro Bowl for the Colts who also played for the Browns.

Punter Chris Gardocki, and DQwell Jackson

9. Name the 3 players who were Colts first round draft picks that played for the Browns.

Andre Rison, Johnny Cooks, and Curtis Dickey

10. What was the betting line in Super Bowl III  Colts vs. Jets?

Per one source I looked at it was 18 pts.   tied for the biggest  in Super Bowl history with one of the 49ers teams.

11. How much did Art Modell offer to pay the Colts to return that name to Baltimore when he was awarded a franchise there...and what were the results of that offer?

He offered 5 million dollars.  The Irsays said they wanted 50 million.  At least in this instance, Modell was not the biggest asshole in the room.

12. The Indianapolis Colts have won one Championship (not Baltimore)....what year was that?

2006

13. Under a certain theory the Indianapolis Colts can trace their lineage back to one of the original teams of the NFL (APFA) that were in the league in the 1920 season.   Which team was that?

The Dayton Triangles.   I will post more on this.

@dutch-oven said:

1 B. 2-2 Check

2. Cleveland beat Indianapolis 38-21 in the 1987 AFC Divisional Game Check

4. The Colts first postseason game was the 1958 NFL Championship Game, played vs the NY Giants at old Yankee Stadium. It was the first overtime game in NFL history, with the Colts winning with an Alan Ameche TD run.  Check

7. Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Gino Marchetti  Check

10. 17.5  Close enough...some had it at 17, some at 18. Check

12. 2005 NO

2. Cleveland beat Indianapolis 38-21 in the 1987 AFC Divisional Game

4. The Colts first postseason game was the 1958 NFL Championship Game, played vs the NY Giants at old Yankee Stadium. It was the first overtime game in NFL history, with the Colts winning with an Alan Ameche TD run.

7. Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Gino Marchetti

10. 17.5

12. 2005