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| Topics Covered in this Edition: |
| -Greetings and Salutations |
| -Site Updates |
| -Draft Gems - Brian Sipe |
| -Great Game Recap - 1946 AAFC Championship Game |
| -Mug Shots - Joe "Turkey" Jones |
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| Greetings and Salutations -
This is the first edition of the Cleveland Browns History Newsletter.
These newsletters will be a forum for site news/information, as
well as provide some interesting tidbits of information about the
Cleveland Browns of old (and new). I hope you will find these newsletters
informative and enjoyable. If you would like to print this letter,
click on the printer friendly link above, and you will get a black
and white version that will go easy on your ink. |
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| Site Updates - Recently, the
new Browns Trivia Quiz was introduced to the public. I am proud
to say that of over 80 participants, only 2 got all 10 questions
right on the first day. Fair Hooker from Portsmouth OH was
the first one to get 'em all, and B. Spriggs came in a close
second. Congratulations to them and good luck to all. Test your
knowledge in the Browns History Quiz here. |
| A terrible oversight has occurred, as I have left
my Hall of Fame page out of the navigational bar. This recently
has been corrected, and you can now access this page. Be warned,
though, that this page takes a long time to load due to all of the
graphics on it. I am currently working this issue. |
| A new fan poll is now on the opening page of this
site. So tell me, which free agent signing do you think will help
the Browns this season the most? Take the
poll and voice your opininon |
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| Browns Fast Fact:
Travis Prentice tied the rookie record for rushing TD's in 2000. |
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| Draft Gems, Brian Sipe -
Brian sipe was an unheralded quarterback at San Diego State when
he graduated in 1972. Cleveland drafted him as an afterthought that
year, picking him up in the 13th round of the NFL Draft (330th pick
overall) Some felt that sipe may not have been big enough to survive
in the pocket of an NFL team, but the 195 lb. Sipe made the team
in '72, and was relegated to bench duty. Sipe got a break, however,
in 1974 when the fledgling Mike Phipps got hurt. Number 17 didn't
play like an all pro that year, throwing for 1 TD and 7 INT's, but
he continued to be the backup for another year before finally getting
the chance to start in 1976. This is when Sipe began to come into
his own. That year, he threw for 17 TD's, but the best was yet to
come. Brian had a breakout year in '79, as he led the league in
TD's (28) and threw for almost 3800 yards. Sipe led the team to
many last minute victories that year, and his offensive crew became
known as the Kardiac Kids. The next season was even better, as Sipe
was named league MVP and threw for over 4000 yards and 30 TD's.
The Kardiac Kids won 9 of their 11 games by less than a TD, and
had it not been for the "mistake on the lake," they would
have been on their wat to a Super Bowl appearance as well. Sipe
had 3 more average seasons in Cleveland after that before moving
on to the USFL, and before he was done he held most of Cleveland's
career passing records. That's not a bad resume for a 13th round
draft pick! |
| Sipe's Career Numbers:
56.5% Completion Rate, 23713 yards, 154 TD's, 149 INT's, and a 74.8
passer rating |
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| This Month in Browns History: |
| June 4, 1944 - Mickey McBride posts a $10,000
fee establishing the Browns as a charter member of the AAFC |
| June 4, 1963 - Defensive Back Don Fleming is
electrocuted in an industrial accident on a construction job in
Florida. Later, his number 46 is retired by the Browns. |
| June 8, 1957 - Jim Brown signs a $15,000 contract
for the 1957 season after being the Browns #1 Draft Pick. |
| June 12, 1953 - Mickey McBride sells the Browns
for $600,000 to a group of Clevelanders led by David R. Jones. |
| June 30, 1953 - End Mac Speedie signs with
Regina of the Canadian Football League, ending an outstanding seven
year career with the Browns |
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Great Game Recap - Browns 14, NY 9 --
The Brownies had beaten the Yankees twice during the season, and
were clear favorites to win the first AAFC Championship Game.
New York refused to die, however, and went up early in the game.
An Otto Graham interception was returned to the Cleveland 34,
and New York drove the ball all the way to the 4 yard line. This
set up a 21 yard field goal in the first. The Browns steamroller
offense was held in check for most of the game, but in the second
quarter Cleveland moved the ball into NY territory. The drive
ended on a blocked Lou Groza field goal. Cleveland finally got
it going again late in the first half when a punt started the
Browns on their own 30. Ghaham made a series of quick passes that
set the Browns up with 1st and 10 at the NY 12. Two rushes by
Marion Motley gave the Browns a 7-3 lead just before the half.
In the third quarter, NY regained the lead on a spectacular 80
yard drive, capped by a 2 yard Spec Sanders run. The extra point
was blocked, but the Yankees still took a 9-7 lead into the 4th.
The game remained 9-7 until about 5 minutes remained. Cleveland
drove 22 yards in 11 plays, and Graham capped the drive off with
a 16 yard strike to Dante Lavelli. New York's final drive was
crushed to a halt by Otto Graham's interception of an Ace Parker
pass at the Cleveland 30 yard line. Cleveland had it's first of
many championships!
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| The here and now -
Cleveland has had a busy offseason, aquiring 6 key free agents...Gerrard
Warren was recently instructed to lose 10 or 15 lbs before training
camp...5th round selection Jeremiah Pharms was released by the Browns
due to a pending criminal case in Washington state...Al Lerner says
that he is recovering well from brain surgery performed in May to
remove a tumor...Cleveland was snubbed in the Free Agent market,
failing to aquire a solid running back, but coach Butch Davis says
that the current RB situation is looking good...Look for DE Courtney
Brown to have a break out season this year. Inside help from #1
pick Warren should eliminate a lot of double teams on the talented
second year player... |
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Mug Shots - Joe "Turkey" Jones
-- Turkey Jones was a DL for the Browns in the early
70's, when Cleveland was going through perhaps it's worst stretch
as a club. He earned his nickname during his rookie season at
Thanksgiving. The veterans always played a trick on the rookies,
sending them off to distant farms to get "free turkeys"
for the holiday. Jones never caught on, and continued the futile
search for hours. The next year, the vets did it to the rookies,
and Jones, again. That's how Turkey got his nickname. Jones wasn't
as gullible on the field, however. By the end of his rookie season,
he had worked his way into the starting lineup, but a knee injury
sidelined him in '72. Cleveland traded him to Philladelphia in
'74, but he was cut the next year, and he resigned with Cleveland.
In 1976 Jones was back in the starting lineup when Pittsburgh
rolled into Cleveland for a game with their biggest rival's, the
Browns. Although Hal Lebovitz called it Joe's best game at the
end of the 3rd quarter, Jones would really make his mark in the
4th. Jones lined up for a play, beat the OL (Larry Brown) and
wrapped his arms around Terry Bradshaw. Whistles blew, but Jones
claims that he never heard them. Jones Lifted Bradshaw up high,
and slammed the Pittsburgh QB on his head. As Bradshaw laid there
motionless on the ground, the officials marched off a 15 yarder
for roughing. Bradshaw ended up with a concussion, the Browns
ended up with an 18-16 win, and Jones ended up with a $3,000 fine.
"Turkey" also ended up with a reputation as a "Steeler
killer" in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh. That event forced
Jones to stay in separate hotels and find different trasportation
to Pittsburgh. However, it also immortalized "Turkey"
in Clevleand.
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| Help Wanted!! -
In an effort to make this the most complete site on the Browns,
we are looking for motivated people to help compile stats and bios
in electronic format. If interested, send
an email to FDM here
and find out what it's all about! |
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| Next month in the newsletter
- July '01 will be dubbed "Bernie Kosar Month"
for no particular reason other than he was and always will be "Mr.
Cleveland Football." Great Games will feature highlights from
his 489 yard performance in the '86 divisional game against the
Jets. Mug Shots will take a closer look at Bill Bellichick, and
the circumstances surrounding the Kosar release, and In Your Face
will have a nice article on Kosar highlights from the Dolphins and
Cowboys. I hope you have all enjoyed this letter, and you can still
sign up for it by filling out the form below. FDM |
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