PART I. The Beginnings of a Dynasty
The year is 1990. The Cleveland Browns, one of the most successful and beloved NFL Franchises is struggling. They finish the season 3-13. They fire coach Bud Carson after starting 2-7 and Jim Shofner is named interim head coach. To make matters worse, the team plays in historic, but decrepit Municpal Stadium in downtown Cleveland, and while fans continue to show up, many in the Browns front office wonder how long the team will stay without a new Stadium. Rumors circulated that owner Art Modell shopped the team to cities such as Baltimore, Jacksonville, Saint Louis, and Charlotte. Fans heard these rumors too, but felt that the NFL would never let another debacle like the Baltimore Colts relocation occur.
Still rumors persisted until May of 1990. That year Clevelanders passed a ballot initiative providing a Sin Tax on alcohol and cigarettes which would provide some of the funding for new homes for the Indians and the Cavaliers.
The Browns had stayed out. Some thought it was because Modell would try to have a multipurpose stadium where the Browns and Indians would play and he'd get all the revenues. A similar plan like this had been proposed in the 80's but had fallen through. However after the ballot initiative Modell and the browns entered negotiations to build a new football stadium as part of the Gateway Sports Complex in Cleveland. The New Stadium would be Completed in 1994, just in time for the NFL's 75th Anniversary. While Modell maintained that it was his idea for the Browns to get a new stadium, it was the city of Cleveland and its mayor Michael White who many felt were the real heroes for offering to build the stadium and partially fund it. However Modell, even though he still wasn't popular, wasn't quite as polarizing, though some fans still held a grudge against him for firing Paul Brown in 1962.
On the field, the Browns hire coach Bill Belichick, the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who were one of the better teams of the 80's. The first few seasons of the Belichick Era were less than memorable with records of 6-10 in 1991, and 7-9 in 1992 and 1993
1994 was the beginning of a new era in Cleveland Browns history. The new Browns stadium was completed in 1994 just in time for the season, and the opening game would be against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Opening day was momentous occasion with Modell, Al Lerner, and Cleveland mayor Michael White dedicating the stadium and participating in the opening coin toss. It was only the beginning of what was to be a year full of celebration in Cleveland. The Browns went on to win 17-10 against the Steelers, with QB Vinny Testaverde throwing the winning TD. The Browns would go 13-3 losing only on the road to Kansas City, Denver, and Pittsburgh, making the Browns the number one seed in the NFL playoffs.
In the first round of that years playoffs the Dolphins defeated the Chiefs 27-17 to face the San Diego Chargers, while Pittsburgh would face New England and win 21-14. The next week Cleveland would face the rival Steelers at home. Many predicted victory, but the Steelers came to play. QB Neil O'Donnell threw for 3 Touchdown passes, and the Browns ended up being defeated 31-17. Many fans were disappointed, but few realized that the best was yet to come, though it would take some time
Reflecting on the 94 Season, Bill Belichick was quoted in his Autobiography as saying that "The 94 season was really the building block of success. We had a real good team that year, and while we were inexperienced and lost our first game, I felt we had made progress as a team"
Eventually the Steelers would lose to the San Diego Chargers, who would lose to the San Francisco 49ers in Miami. 1995 started out with high expectations for the Browns. Comfortable in their new stadium while the Raiders and Rams had moved from LA to Oakland and Saint Louis, Sport Illustrated picked the Browns to be AFC Champions that year. Many felt that this was possible since the Browns had one of the better defenses in the league, though many obstacles lay ahead including the hated Steelers.
In the end the Browns finished the season 10-6. While they were not the top team in the league. They ended up losing to Pittsburgh, Detroit, New England, and Minnesota on the road and a thriller to the Green Bay Packers at home. Still the Browns had finished high enough that they were the 2nd seed in the playoffs and got a bye.
In the first round of the 1995 playoffs, the Bills played the Colts and won 35 28, while the Steelers played the Chargers and were able to win 35-21, meaning they would meet Cleveland in the playoffs for a 2nd straight year.
Both the Browns and the Steelers seemed evenly matched, though many felt the Browns, in spite of their defense were going to win due to Pittsburgh's past success. However, the Browns were able to pull off a win, beating Pittsburgh 17-14 due to a game winning touchdown by Vinny Testaverde who threw to Andre Rison for the score, sending Cleveland to play the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 14-7.
Once again many fans and reporters wondered if Cleveland would shake off its lack of success in playoff games and beat the Bills. While these Bills were not the team who had won 4 straight AFC titles, they were still respected by the media. However, just as in the REgular season, the Browns beat the Bills. While it was close for most of the game the Browns pulled away in the 4th quarter winning 27-17. Fans were ecstatic and even charged down to the field, where they tried to topple the goalposts. Finally Clevelanders were victorious and were heading to the Super Bowl after years of disappointment. However, there was one final obstacle, the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys, easily the best team of the early 90's, had won two super bowls already, and under former Oklahoma Sooners coach Barry Switzer, and new owner Jerry Jones had regained the moniker of "America's Team". The Cowboys had beaten the Packers and Eagles on their way to the Super Bowl, and had looked to be the favorite.
In the end, the Cowboys would be victorious, crushing Cleveland 35-9 at Sun Devil Stadium. While many Cleveland fans were just happy to be there, it was still a crushing loss. Many still felt that the city of Cleveland was cursed and that they'd never win a title, in spite of having a good enough offense and a successful defense.
The 1996 Draft would also be a memorable one for the Browns. Many future Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer would be in this draft, including and Ray Lewis. Lewis would be drafted by the Browns, who picked him as the 31st pick. While LEwis was praised for his intesity, his size was seen by some as a problem and as a result fell in the draft. Other notable players in the draft included Jonathan Odgen of the Saint Louis Rams, Eddie George of the Oilers, Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Terrel Owens of the 49ers, Amani Toomer of the Giants, andMike Alstott of the Bucs. Lewis would eventually become a leader of the Cleveland defense in spite of off the field issues, however this was yet to come.
The year is 1990. The Cleveland Browns, one of the most successful and beloved NFL Franchises is struggling. They finish the season 3-13. They fire coach Bud Carson after starting 2-7 and Jim Shofner is named interim head coach. To make matters worse, the team plays in historic, but decrepit Municpal Stadium in downtown Cleveland, and while fans continue to show up, many in the Browns front office wonder how long the team will stay without a new Stadium. Rumors circulated that owner Art Modell shopped the team to cities such as Baltimore, Jacksonville, Saint Louis, and Charlotte. Fans heard these rumors too, but felt that the NFL would never let another debacle like the Baltimore Colts relocation occur.
Still rumors persisted until May of 1990. That year Clevelanders passed a ballot initiative providing a Sin Tax on alcohol and cigarettes which would provide some of the funding for new homes for the Indians and the Cavaliers.
The Browns had stayed out. Some thought it was because Modell would try to have a multipurpose stadium where the Browns and Indians would play and he'd get all the revenues. A similar plan like this had been proposed in the 80's but had fallen through. However after the ballot initiative Modell and the browns entered negotiations to build a new football stadium as part of the Gateway Sports Complex in Cleveland. The New Stadium would be Completed in 1994, just in time for the NFL's 75th Anniversary. While Modell maintained that it was his idea for the Browns to get a new stadium, it was the city of Cleveland and its mayor Michael White who many felt were the real heroes for offering to build the stadium and partially fund it. However Modell, even though he still wasn't popular, wasn't quite as polarizing, though some fans still held a grudge against him for firing Paul Brown in 1962.
On the field, the Browns hire coach Bill Belichick, the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who were one of the better teams of the 80's. The first few seasons of the Belichick Era were less than memorable with records of 6-10 in 1991, and 7-9 in 1992 and 1993
1994 was the beginning of a new era in Cleveland Browns history. The new Browns stadium was completed in 1994 just in time for the season, and the opening game would be against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Opening day was momentous occasion with Modell, Al Lerner, and Cleveland mayor Michael White dedicating the stadium and participating in the opening coin toss. It was only the beginning of what was to be a year full of celebration in Cleveland. The Browns went on to win 17-10 against the Steelers, with QB Vinny Testaverde throwing the winning TD. The Browns would go 13-3 losing only on the road to Kansas City, Denver, and Pittsburgh, making the Browns the number one seed in the NFL playoffs.
In the first round of that years playoffs the Dolphins defeated the Chiefs 27-17 to face the San Diego Chargers, while Pittsburgh would face New England and win 21-14. The next week Cleveland would face the rival Steelers at home. Many predicted victory, but the Steelers came to play. QB Neil O'Donnell threw for 3 Touchdown passes, and the Browns ended up being defeated 31-17. Many fans were disappointed, but few realized that the best was yet to come, though it would take some time
Reflecting on the 94 Season, Bill Belichick was quoted in his Autobiography as saying that "The 94 season was really the building block of success. We had a real good team that year, and while we were inexperienced and lost our first game, I felt we had made progress as a team"
Eventually the Steelers would lose to the San Diego Chargers, who would lose to the San Francisco 49ers in Miami. 1995 started out with high expectations for the Browns. Comfortable in their new stadium while the Raiders and Rams had moved from LA to Oakland and Saint Louis, Sport Illustrated picked the Browns to be AFC Champions that year. Many felt that this was possible since the Browns had one of the better defenses in the league, though many obstacles lay ahead including the hated Steelers.
In the end the Browns finished the season 10-6. While they were not the top team in the league. They ended up losing to Pittsburgh, Detroit, New England, and Minnesota on the road and a thriller to the Green Bay Packers at home. Still the Browns had finished high enough that they were the 2nd seed in the playoffs and got a bye.
In the first round of the 1995 playoffs, the Bills played the Colts and won 35 28, while the Steelers played the Chargers and were able to win 35-21, meaning they would meet Cleveland in the playoffs for a 2nd straight year.
Both the Browns and the Steelers seemed evenly matched, though many felt the Browns, in spite of their defense were going to win due to Pittsburgh's past success. However, the Browns were able to pull off a win, beating Pittsburgh 17-14 due to a game winning touchdown by Vinny Testaverde who threw to Andre Rison for the score, sending Cleveland to play the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Kansas City Chiefs 14-7.
Once again many fans and reporters wondered if Cleveland would shake off its lack of success in playoff games and beat the Bills. While these Bills were not the team who had won 4 straight AFC titles, they were still respected by the media. However, just as in the REgular season, the Browns beat the Bills. While it was close for most of the game the Browns pulled away in the 4th quarter winning 27-17. Fans were ecstatic and even charged down to the field, where they tried to topple the goalposts. Finally Clevelanders were victorious and were heading to the Super Bowl after years of disappointment. However, there was one final obstacle, the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys, easily the best team of the early 90's, had won two super bowls already, and under former Oklahoma Sooners coach Barry Switzer, and new owner Jerry Jones had regained the moniker of "America's Team". The Cowboys had beaten the Packers and Eagles on their way to the Super Bowl, and had looked to be the favorite.
In the end, the Cowboys would be victorious, crushing Cleveland 35-9 at Sun Devil Stadium. While many Cleveland fans were just happy to be there, it was still a crushing loss. Many still felt that the city of Cleveland was cursed and that they'd never win a title, in spite of having a good enough offense and a successful defense.
The 1996 Draft would also be a memorable one for the Browns. Many future Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer would be in this draft, including and Ray Lewis. Lewis would be drafted by the Browns, who picked him as the 31st pick. While LEwis was praised for his intesity, his size was seen by some as a problem and as a result fell in the draft. Other notable players in the draft included Jonathan Odgen of the Saint Louis Rams, Eddie George of the Oilers, Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Terrel Owens of the 49ers, Amani Toomer of the Giants, andMike Alstott of the Bucs. Lewis would eventually become a leader of the Cleveland defense in spite of off the field issues, however this was yet to come.