Tag Archives: cleveland browns

NFL

Byner, Earnest

Cards: Action Packed 1991, Action Packed 1992, Pro Set 1990.
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf  Tournament

Earnest Byner is best known for being the scapegoat from the 1987 Denver/ Cleveland playoff game entitled ‘the fumble’ when Byner played for the Browns.  It is a shame because he actually was a very good player outside of this incident.

Byner was stolen in the 10th round of the 1984 draft  by the Cleveland Browns after graduating from East Carolina. A well rounded player he could play fullback or halfback, because he was a great blocker, receiver, and tenacious runner. He worked his way into the lineup and by 1985 had a breakthrough season with over 1,000 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving.

After a subpar 1988, Byner was traded for Mike Oliphant to the Washington Redskins, where the second phase of his career would begin. This would also turn into one of the most lopsided trades (Herschel Walker trade aside)  in the history of the league as Byner would lead the Redskins to the Superbowl in 1992. After his playing days with the Redskins were over, Byner returned to the Browns (1994-1995), before the franchise up and left for Baltimore where he finished his playing career in 1997.

After retiring Byner comfortably moved right into the coaching ranks and has seen stints with the Ravens, Redskins, Titans, and as of 2010 is with the Jaguars. He was also named as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and was the first player inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor in 2001. Earnest showed up at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament and made us chase his golf cart. He signed on the move surprisingly well and was paired up with Steve McMichael during the tourney.

Games 211/132   Att  2095         Yds  8261          Avg  3.9              Td  56           lg 54
Rec 512   Yds  4605   Avg 9.0   Td   15     lg 40

WLAF

Baker, Tony


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF LL 1991, Ultimate WLAF LL 1991, Ultimate 1991, Wildcard WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 7/30   Received:   8/7   (8 days)

After debuting with the Atlanta Falcons out of the 1986 draft Tony Baker would hop over to the Browns that year where he’d sit out two seasons rehabbing, and then played with the Cardinals in 1989. The Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF drafted him in the first round of the league’s positional draft. He’d provide the third best team in the league in 1991 a shot in the arm as their workhorse utility back, leading the WLAF in rushing attempts, yards from scrimmage and two point conversions. (Baker would be the only player in the league that year to have over 1,000 yards in 1991 with 648 on the ground, 423 through receptions and 296 in kick return yards.)  He would also be named WLAF player of the week (7) for his preposterous performance against the Orlando Thunder where he notched 192 total yards.  In the 1992 season, the Frankfurt offensive line would be decimated by injuries and this would hamper Baker’s average per carry and receiving average drastically.  He’d finish 11th in rushing yards that year and had only 857 yards from scrimmage. (The Galaxy would also slump to a 3-7 record.)  Baker would finish his WLAF career far and away the leader in yards from scrimmage with 2,224 yards while the league reorganized after the 1992 season.

Games 20   Att 322  Yds 995  Avg 3.1  Lg 26  Td 7
Rec 78   Yds 745  Avg 9.6  Lg 35  Td  1
Ret  14   Yds 478  Avg  19.9   Lg 49   Td 0

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Newsome, Ozzie

Cards: Score 1990, Proset 1990
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o The Baltimore Ravens
Sent: 1/13/2010    Received 2/11/2010  (29 days)

Ozzie Newsome and the Browns during the late 80’s began to have a more and more contentious relationship with Houston. While the Browns would claim that the Steelers were their true rivals, the Oilers snuck up on them starting in ’88, and under Glanville the two teams (and in fact the whole division for that matter) ignited a hated rivalry.  The Oilers and Browns would face up in the finale of 1988 and lose at Cleveland 28-23, then somehow hold on to win in Cleveland the next week in wildcard weekend 28-23.

Newsome would always manage to keep his streak alive and ended up notching 150 straight games with a catch and retired at the end of 1990 after 13 seasons with the Browns. He was inducted into the HOF in 1999. Newsome moved with the Modell franchise to Baltimore where he has become an extremely successful general manager and the first black GM in the NFL for the Ravens.

Games 198              Rec 668               Yds 7980              Avg 12.1          TD 47