NFL

The Cleveland Browns are one of the oldest franchises coming from the All-American Football League born in 1944. From the start the Browns were team that would be in contention for NFL Championships with no “growing pains”. From 1946-1949 the Browns record was a combined 52-4-3, by far the best start to any professional football ever. The Browns won the AFC Champions ever year and was the dominate force in football. From 1946-1958 the Browns finished in first place twelve out of thirteen seasons.The Browns would merge with the NFL in 1950 along with the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts. The Browns would add to their trophy cases by winning NFL Championships again in 1950 defeating the L.A. Rams 30-28, 1954 defeating the Detroit Lions 56-10, and in 1955 defeating the L.A. Rams once again 38-14. Some would question how good the Browns were and they would have a answer. The Browns appeared in in their leagues championship game twelve time out of thirteen seasons from 1946-1958 and won seven championships. The Browns were one of the first great football dynasties.

In 1957, the Browns would acquire one of the greatest football players of all-time, running back Jim Brown. Jim Brown played only nine football seasons but had a major impact on the game. Brown was selected to the Pro Bowl every year he played, three time NFL Most Valuable Player in 1957, 1958, and 1965, three time Pro Bowl MVP in 1961, 1962, and 1965, named the NFL’s All-Decade 1960′s team and the NFL’s 75^th Anniversary All-Time team. Brown had a career total of 12, 312 yards which stood as the record for more then twenty years, and 126 total touchdowns. Brown would win his only NFL Championship in 1964 when the Browns defeated the Baltimore Colts 27-0.

The Browns reached the playoffs twenty-two times in their first forty seasons, a very impressive mark. In 1986, the Browns were again on the cusp of their first Super Bowl but lost to the Denver Broncos and John Elway in the AFC Championship game 23-20.

In 1996, the Cleveland Browns became no more when Arthur B. Modell purchased the team and decided to move the Browns to Baltimore and they became known as the Baltimore Ravens franchise. The Cleveland Browns absence from the NFL was very short lived, as soon as the team went to Baltimore many campaigns to bring football back to Cleveland took place .Modell who owned the Browns name and team color decided to relinquish the name and colors to the new owner, Al Lerner, so the Browns could resume play back in Cleveland. In 1999, the Browns received a brand new stadium and have resumed their rich football history.

Many Hall of Fame players have worn the orange and brown which include running back Jim Brown, quarterback Otto Graham, wide receiver Bobby Mitchell, and tight end Ozzie Newsome.

While the Cleveland Browns haven’t returned to their championship runs of the 1940′s and 1950′s since returning to the NFL in 1999, the fans still take pride in their Browns football team. Few teams have the fan support the Brwons do regardless of winning of losing seasons. They showed their undying support when the Browns were out of the league for two years demanding they make a return. The Browns play in a tough AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. With a 10-6 record in 2007 just missing the playoffs, the Browns look to build off a good season and take the next step.