@dutch-oven said:

Way to finish this off Flugs!

It has been a lot of fun, hope a few of you were entertained by it, glad it is over ?

GO BROWNS!

~   Yes thanks flugs   -and-  syd and especially  Dutch  for picking it up and doing  a fantastic   A+  job.  Especially since I went on the  DL  at a bad time.  I hope our fellow   TBB   members  enjoyed it too.

*To be be back in 2024 !   Yes  our countdown  Vol. 2 should be great.

It has been a lot of fun, hope a few of you were entertained by it, glad it is over ?

GO BROWNS!

One of those guys has a tendency to get so far offsides every time he visits NW PA - he now has his own fanbase called the "Pennsylvania Dutch." 

Our other author who styles a mentality that proof-reading is for sissies made such an impression on the locals at one of the last places he visited - they honored him with a license plate that has his screen name CID written above their state name of NUVATTA.  If it was anywhere near Lost Veygus he probably already warned them not to bet any cake on Sinsinati. FWIW, we think Syd's a keeper too!   Just 1 quick piece of advice. The next time you want a good deal on a spell checker - make sure the store you buy it from says Pawn Shop instead of Porn Shop....

MJP has been the on-going contributing author that has added additional information and perspective throughout the countdown.  He's had some things come up that have prevented him from being able to participate as much as he'd like to at this time.  He's a very tough dude though.  When he's not chewing glass - he's bench pressing Ford Rangers in his early 70s. We're looking forward to seeing him in the regular mix again real soon!

We're finally all the way down to just 1 day away from our 1st regular season game. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 2 guys that wore #1 on their jersey. The 1st guy was a 5'7" 165lb RB & Special Teams Return Specialist named Donald Richard "Dino" Hall out of Glassboro State that also wore #26 most of the time. Dino was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent. He played 5 seasons for the Browns and had 27 carries for 194 yards, 111 punt returns for 901 yards, 151 kickoff returns for 3,185 yards.  The other guy is Michael Jackson who was a 6'4" 195lb WR out of Southern Mississippi that the Browns drafted in round 6 of the 1991 NFL Draft. During his 5 seasons with the Browns he played in 71 regular season and playoff games.  He made decent contributions of 180 receptions for 2,966 yards and 28 TDs. He was often described as a great guy and a good teammate.  Unfortunately, Michael died in a motorcycle accident In Louisiana on the morning at May 12, 2017 at 48 years of age.

Couch signed with Green Bay prior to training camp of the 2004 season, but it was apparent he was damaged goods. He tried over the next few years to latch on with another team, trying out for a few, but he would never throw another regular season pass after the 2003 season. For his career, Couch threw for 11,131 yards, 64 touchdowns, 67 interceptions. He also was the Original G in coming to NE Ohio and nabbing a local girl who posed in Playboy, as he married 1999 Playmate of the Year, Heather Kozar, 1994 Green (Akron) High School graduate. 

The magic ended at the end of the 2007 season. The following season Anderson was starting over 2007 first round pick Brady Quinn, but injuries and poor play resulted in Quinn eventually being named starter, until he played himself out of the job, which Anderson kept until he suffered a season-ending injury. In 2009, the two would battle again, in our own version of South Park's Timmy vs Jimmy fight, with both QBs playing poorly. Anderson's days as a Cleveland Brown were done.

From 2010 to 2018, Anderson played for Arizona, Carolina and Buffalo, starting rarely after his first season with the Cardinals. The tall Oregonian with a big arm and zero touch would retire after the 2018 season. For his career, he'd throw for 10,878 yards, 60 touchdowns and 64 interceptions. 

@dutch-oven said:

Me too, heading up to Erie Friday for the weekend, should get home Sunday just in time for the game. 

Hopefully mjp can do the last two days ?

Dawson would sign with the Browns in 1999, and spend the next fourteen years in Cleveland, going to the Pro Bowl twice (2007, 2012). Dawson surpassed Lou Groza in successful field goals by a Browns kicker. He left the Browns in free agency and played for San Francisco (2013-2016) and Arizona (2017 and 2018).  In his career, Dawson made 83.8% of his field goals, which ranks him in the top 30 in NFL history. Interestingly enough, his career long field goal of 57 yards happened with the Cardinals when he was 42 years old! In fact, he was very good on long kicks in his career, making a very impressive 70% of attempted field goals 50 yards or longer. The Browns are still struggling to fill his kicking shoes, twice drafting kickers who flamed out with the Browns since he left. 

@syd said:

1 day till i am on vacation. sucks i will miss the last of the countdown

Me too, heading up to Erie Friday for the weekend, should get home Sunday just in time for the game. 

Hopefully mjp can do the last two days ?

Garcia went undrafted during the 1994 Draft, and would sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, becoming Doug Flutie's backup QB. Became full time starter in 1996 after Flutie signed with Toronto. Was a highly successful starter for the next three seasons, leading Calgary to a CFL Grey Cup victory in 1998. Garcia signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1999 at age 29, and would start that season after Steve Young suffered a season-ending concussion early on. Garcia would go to three Pro Bowls in a row starting in 2000, but a change in offensive philosophy made Garcia a round peg in a square hole in San Fran. He'd sign as a free agent with the Browns in 2004, as the Browns were moving on from Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb, and Butch Davis was desperately trying to hang on to his job. In fact, the Browns signing of Jeff Garcia was so short-sighted that they never considered drafting a QB from Miami (Ohio) who grew up west of Cleveland. Once again, the offense the Browns ran never seemed to fit Garcia, instead of allowing him to roll out and improvise they tried to keep the 6'1 195lb QB in the pocket like he was Drew Bledsoe. It was a bad fit. He did. though, lead the Browns to their first opening week win since coming back in 1999, and threw a 99 yard touchdown to Andre Davis. He would leave the Browns after the season. 

From 2005-2009 Garcia would play for Detroit, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay (he'd make his fourth and last Pro Bowl appearance for the Bucs in 2007) and Philadelphia again. After a year off from the NFL, he'd be a backup for Houston in 2011, before retiring. For his NFL career, Garcia threw for 25,537 yards, 161 touchdowns against 83 interceptions and a 87.5 QB rating. 

Most impressively, Garcia was able to marry Avon Lake's Carmella DeCesare, 2004 Playmate of the Month of April. I once dated a girl who went to high school with her about the time Garcia and DeCesare got married, but sadly, your boy Dutch was not able to double-date with them. (Cue sad music)

@dutch-oven said:

Well this turd that won't flush thread just keeps flowing down the proverbial sewage pipes to its inevitable end, isn't it? Happy Labor Day, and allow me to regale you with a story about a plucky little QB with moxie just oozing out of every orifice who was a winner as the Browns starting QB, and who wore #6. That's right you silly gooses, we are Brian Hoyer days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! 

Hoyer was born in Lakewood, raised in North Olmsted, and went to high school at St. Ignatius, starring in both football and baseball. He would go to Michigan State, and sign with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He would beat out all comers and become Tom Brady's backup by the start of his rookie season, and stay in New England through the 2011 season. He'd be cut during training camp of 2012, and play with both Pittsburgh and Arizona during the season. After the season, he would sign a two year free agent contract with your Cleveland Browns. He ended up starting three games after starter Brandon Weeden broke his hip or got osteoporosis or some other old person's ailment, and won all three, but would have a season-ending injury during his third start vs Buffalo. He'd be named Browns starting QB in 2014, after both Weeden and Jason Campbell were allowed to leave, and despite the Browns wasting the 22nd overall pick on Billy Manziel. Hoyer would lead the Browns back to win from the biggest deficit in team history, when they trailed 28-3 to Tennessee in a 29-28 victory, and a 6-3 first place record. Sadly, he would struggle in the next four games, three of them losses, and the Browns would eventually turn to Billy Manziel as the starter, until he suffered a season-ending injury. After a few more late season starts, Hoyer would leave the Browns as a free agent when the season concluded.

Since 2015, Hoyer has played for Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, New England (second time), Indianapolis, New England (third time) and signed with Las Vegas in 2023. He has started for seven different teams, compiling 10,668 yards, 53 touchdowns vs 35 interceptions and a 82..9 QB rating. With the Browns, the local kid had a 10-6 record as a starter. 

That guy had a lot of moxie; and his coaches and teammates really liked him.  What he did without high expectations in such a short time put a positive stamp on that #6 jersey.  Others have tried to live up to it and just fell short... Those smiles above just tell it like it is... ?

Hoyer was born in Lakewood, raised in North Olmsted, and went to high school at St. Ignatius, starring in both football and baseball. He would go to Michigan State, and sign with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He would beat out all comers and become Tom Brady's backup by the start of his rookie season, and stay in New England through the 2011 season. He'd be cut during training camp of 2012, and play with both Pittsburgh and Arizona during the season. After the season, he would sign a two year free agent contract with your Cleveland Browns. He ended up starting three games after starter Brandon Weeden broke his hip or got osteoporosis or some other old person's ailment, and won all three, but would have a season-ending injury during his third start vs Buffalo. He'd be named Browns starting QB in 2014, after both Weeden and Jason Campbell were allowed to leave, and despite the Browns wasting the 22nd overall pick on Billy Manziel. Hoyer would lead the Browns back to win from the biggest deficit in team history, when they trailed 28-3 to Tennessee in a 29-28 victory, and a 6-3 first place record. Sadly, he would struggle in the next four games, three of them losses, and the Browns would eventually turn to Billy Manziel as the starter, until he suffered a season-ending injury. After a few more late season starts, Hoyer would leave the Browns as a free agent when the season concluded.

Since 2015, Hoyer has played for Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, New England (second time), Indianapolis, New England (third time) and signed with Las Vegas in 2023. He has started for seven different teams, compiling 10,668 yards, 53 touchdowns vs 35 interceptions and a 82..9 QB rating. With the Browns, the local kid had a 10-6 record as a starter. 

And as a punter/place kick holder, he made history with the Browns, as the first NFL player to ever score on a two point conversion when a faked extra point was run in by Tupa in the 1994 season opener vs the Bengals. He'd score two more conversions that season, earning Tom the nickname "Two Point Tupa". After leaving Cleveland after the 1995 season (as did the Browns themselves), he'd play for New England, the New York Jets, Tampa Bay (where he'd win a Super Bowl) and Washington, where he'd retire after the 2005 season. 

@dutch-oven said:

The excitement for the upcoming season is palpable, gentlemen. I can feel it all the way in the cockles of my heart. Perhaps, even, the sub-cockle area. I'm going to need you fine people to temper your enthusiasm. But then again, how do I tell you guys to temper your enthusiasm and at the same time tell you that we are Kevin Hogan days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Dutch, why did you pick Kevin Hogan of all people to profile?"

Well, allow me to retort, again. First, I'm doing these profiles, and I do whats I want. Second, Kevin Hogan was the focus of the strangest love affair for a Browns player by a Browns fan I've ever seen. PoeticG, where ever you are you goofy bastard, you loved you some Kevin Hogan. It was baffling for everyone else to read, but I won't lie, so damn entertaining. Unlike a prominent member of this message board's love affairs for Brady Quinn and Baker Mayfield, which always struck me as sexual in nature, your love for Kevin Hogan was a pure, simple love. It was adorable. 

Anyways, Hogan was one of the more experienced college QBs you'd ever see entering the NFL when he was drafted in the 2016 Draft by Kansas City in the 5th round. He started 46 games for Stanford from 2012-2015, and the Cardinal won 3 of 4 Pac 12 Titles in those four years, and 2 of 3 Rose Bowls in that time frame too. Hogan would be released after his rookie training camp by the Chiefs, and picked up by the Browns. During his rookie season he filled in for an injured Cody Kessler, and became the second Browns QB ever to run for 100 or more yards in a game. He was traded after the 2017 season by the Browns to Washington, and has bounced around the NFL since then, also playing for Denver, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Houston and Tennessee again, as of last season. In his nine career games played, eight came with the Browns, including his one carer start. 

If Casey Kasem was still alive, this would be the song he'd dedicate to Kevin Hogan from the 1 man show we call Poe.  

Well, allow me to retort, again. First, I'm doing these profiles, and I do whats I want. Second, Kevin Hogan was the focus of the strangest love affair for a Browns player by a Browns fan I've ever seen. PoeticG, where ever you are you goofy bastard, you loved you some Kevin Hogan. It was baffling for everyone else to read, but I won't lie, so damn entertaining. Unlike a prominent member of this message board's love affairs for Brady Quinn and Baker Mayfield, which always struck me as sexual in nature, your love for Kevin Hogan was a pure, simple love. It was adorable. 

Anyways, Hogan was one of the more experienced college QBs you'd ever see entering the NFL when he was drafted in the 2016 Draft by Kansas City in the 5th round. He started 46 games for Stanford from 2012-2015, and the Cardinal won 3 of 4 Pac 12 Titles in those four years, and 2 of 3 Rose Bowls in that time frame too. Hogan would be released after his rookie training camp by the Chiefs, and picked up by the Browns. During his rookie season he filled in for an injured Cody Kessler, and became the second Browns QB ever to run for 100 or more yards in a game. He was traded after the 2017 season by the Browns to Washington, and has bounced around the NFL since then, also playing for Denver, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Houston and Tennessee again, as of last season. In his nine career games played, eight came with the Browns, including his one carer start. 

How radically has kicking in the NFL changed? Well, Cade York made 75% of his field goals last season and he ranked 31st of all kickers. Matt Bahr was considered by most Browns fans as a solid, dependable kicker that was worthy of kicking for a Super Bowl contender of the mid to late 80s. Well, in his career, he made 300 of 415 career field goals... a 72.3% success rate. He didn't have a super strong leg, making only 6 of 23 career 50 yard or longer attempts, but strangely enough his longest career field goal (55 yards) was made during his last season with the Patriots, when he was 39 years old. 

@syd said:

i am jacked for the season to start . I mean i wish i had a house,condo something in Cleveland for football season

Me too Syd; but my liver would probably go on strike...

@dutch-oven said:

We're almost to single digits, as we are Kelly Holcomb days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Holcomb was an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995, and would move on to the Indianapolis Colts and be a backup from 1996-2000. Signed by the Browns, he was Tim Couch's backup at first, but would play well in short stints in the lineup, which eventually started the "new" Browns first QB controversy. Couch would get hurt at the end of the 2002 Browns season, as they were making their first playoff push since they had returned in 1999. In stepped Holcomb, and he threw for an outstanding 429 yards and three touchdowns vs the Steelers in their Wild Card playoff game, but the defense faltered down the stretch, blowing a huge lea, and eventually the game. Holcomb would end up being named starter the next year, but injuries and mediocre play ended his future as a Browns starter. He'd be replaced by Jeff Garcia the next season, and in 2005 moved on to Buffalo, then Philadelphia, and finally Minnesota. He would retire after the 2007 season.  For his career, Holcomb started 24 games, 12 of them with the Browns, plus one remarkable playoff game. 

NICE!  When I lived in Nashville, I always listened to the sports radio station "The Fan."  As you said Holcomb played at Middle TN State University so in his life after playing - he was a commentator for MTSU.  They had Holcomb  as a guest on the radio 1 morning talking football with hosts Frank Wycheck and Mark Howard. 

All of a sudden they asked what he liked to do when he wasn't working.  He said he has a good friend Tim in KY that he likes to go hunting with.  Then the host said "Wait a minute!  That wouldn't be Tim Couch - would it?"  He said, "Yeah, he's a very good friend of mine.  We were in each other's weddings and our wives are also close friends."  Of course the host reminded him he thought there was a big QB controversy in Cleveland and you 2 guys hated each other.  Holcomb replied "that couldn't have been further from the truth; but it definitely helped sell newspapers in Cleveland at the time."  Why do I get the feeling Mary Kay Cabot was all over this like she was pouncing on her vibrator?  Kelly added, Tim never stopped being a great friend and teammate when I got the opportunity to play.  He told me you got this and I got you."   That all may not be word for word - but it's pretty fricken close.

Long story short, I learned something new that morning...

@flugel said:

Nice write-up!  I like the Peoples-Choice.  I got me a feeling he's ready for a breakout season...

i am jacked for the season to start . I mean i wish i had a house,condo something in Cleveland for football season

@dutch-oven said:

We're so damn close, the train is almost at the station. In fact, we are Donovan Peoples-Jones days away from the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. DPJ was a five star high school player from Cass Tech High School out of Detroit, and for reasons unknown, he decided to play college ball at TSUN. He would leave after his junior year, after a somewhat disappointing college career. In three seasons with TTUN, he caught 103 passes for 1327 yards (12.9 avg) and 14 touchdowns. He added two more touchdowns on special teams returns. 

The Browns would take Peoples-Jones in the 6th round of the 2020 Draft, and he's been a great value pick for Andrew Berry. In three seasons for the Browns, he has caught 109 passes for 1740 yards (an impressive 16 yards a catch) and 8 touchdowns. 

Nice write-up!  I like the Peoples-Choice.  I got me a feeling he's ready for a breakout season...

The Browns would take Peoples-Jones in the 6th round of the 2020 Draft, and he's been a great value pick for Andrew Berry. In three seasons for the Browns, he has caught 109 passes for 1740 yards (an impressive 16 yards a catch) and 8 touchdowns.