Bernie Kosar, Clay Matthews, Reggie Rucker, Frank Minnifield, Tony Jones, Sam Rutigliano, Brian Sipe and Jerry Sherk all absolutely LOVED playing here. And they have some advice for the current team.
View full sizeFormer Browns linebacker Clay Matthews says there are not a lot of distractions in Cleveland, and that's a good thing. "It's all football. It's almost like life and death for the fans. It's not like that in other cities."CLEVELAND, Ohio — OK, Browns fans, consider these names: Bernie Kosar, Clay Matthews, Reggie Rucker, Frank Minnifield, Tony Jones, Sam Rutigliano, Brian Sipe and Jerry Sherk.
Suppose all of them were given a chance to speak to the Browns team as training camp opens this week. What would they say?
That's the question that posed to each man, and their responses will make fans smile. All of them absolutely loved playing here, and were quick to mention it. In fact, that was the one common theme.
But they had other messages for the 2010 Browns.
"Capture the love early."
-- Tony Jones
An offensive lineman from 1988 to '95, Jones lives in Atlanta, where he has interests in real estate, a hair-styling enterprise and other businesses.
"I'd tell the guys that the town needs them," said Jones. "After losing LeBron [James] and everything else Cleveland has been through, the fans are just waiting to love you. The town revolves around the team. The Dawg Pound was always our 12th man, win or lose."
Jones said he feels the most love in Cleveland.
"I was an offensive lineman, and who pays attention to linemen?" he asked. "But in Cleveland, fans would see me at the store and hug me. At restaurants, they wanted to buy me lunch and dinner. Just give them something to cheer about, and they will embrace you."
"You've got to build the right culture."
-- Clay Matthews
For 16 years ending in 1993, Matthews played linebacker in Cleveland.
"There are not many distractions for the players, which is good," he said. "It's all football. It's almost like life and death for the fans. It's not like that in other cities."
Matthews said when he joined the Browns in 1978, two older linebackers mentored him -- Charlie Hall and Gerald Irons.
"The players set the tone," he said. "The coaches can't do it all. The culture can be good or bad. If the highest-paid and most-talented guys don't work hard, then the other guys won't. If they do, the young guys and new guys coming to the team will fall in line."
An assistant football coach at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif., Matthews would challenge the Browns players to "do the extra work in the summers and after practice, pay attention in the film room. ... When new guys come to the team, they need to look at you and say, 'I want to be like that, he does the right things.'"
View full sizeFormer Browns coach Sam Rutigliano says it's important for players to keep control of their egos and put the team first."Talent is not enough."
-- Sam Rutigliano
Rutigliano coached the Browns from 1978 to '84. His 1980 Browns made the playoffs and lost to Oakland in the Red Right 88 game. Rutigliano still lives in the Cleveland area and does commentary on the Browns for STO.
"I'd ask Joshua Cribbs to stand up," he said. "Then I'd talk about how he came out of Kent State, how no one drafted him and how he went on to become one of the greatest return men in NFL history. Then I'd talk about how Brian Sipe was a 13th-round draft pick and became the MVP in 1980. I'd say that these guys and others did it more on attitude than ability."
Rutigliano said it's easy for players to become complacent, especially if they received a big signing bonus. It's also tempting to be selfish.
"You have to check your egos at the door," he said. "Good teams are just that -- good teams. EGO stands for Edging God Out, making you the center of your universe. That's doesn't work in life or football."
"You choose to have team chemistry."
-- Frank Minnifield
For eight seasons ending in 1992, Minnifield was an undersized (5-9, 160 pounds) but overachieving cornerback. Playing across from Hanford Dixon in the secondary, Minnifield and Dixon created the "Dawgs" image.
"That was by design," said Minnifield. "When I joined the team, we had two No. 1 draft choices in Don Rogers and Hanford. I was a high-priced free agent from the USFL. We had a lot of egos on the defense, especially in the backfield. We either could pull together or pull apart. We needed an identity."
Minnifield lives in Kentucky, where he's in the construction and real estate business. Along with Dixon, he called quarterbacks "cats" and the defensive backs were dogs, waiting to eat up the cats. That led to barking in practice by Dixon and himself. Then the other players began barking. Fans in training camp heard it, and they barked.
"Things like that bring a team together," he said. "That worked for us, but you need your own thing. But you must get to know your teammates and their families. Go out to dinner together. Decide in advance that you will get along and have each other's back. It's your choice what kind of team you have."
"You are one play away from being a former player."
-- Reggie Rucker
A Browns receiver from 1975 to '81, Rucker said he'd challenge the players to look at more than the present, more than themselves. He still lives in the Cleveland area.
"The new labor agreement is coming up," he said. "Every player is one injury away from being like me -- a former player. The decisions you make today, you live with tomorrow. Former players are not your enemy, think about them."
Rucker said he'd urge the players to plan for their own financial futures. He'd also challenge them to push the union to make a greater investment in the pension plans for former players.
"Why do the rookies get all that money?" he asked. "Why is that a good system for the current or former players? Put in a rookie salary cap, set that money aside for those who went before you. One day, you will be just like them."
"What are your habits?"
-- Brian Sipe
Sipe was the quarterback from 1974-83. Now the quarterback coach at San Diego State, his alma mater, Sipe said, "[Former Browns tight end] Milt Morin and I were speaking at a youth camp. It was my second year with the Browns. We were in a losing streak. Someone asked how we got up for practice when all was lost for the season. Milt answered, 'Whenever I walk on to the practice field I'm working on habits. The decision I have to make is am I going to work on good ones or bad ones?'"
"You are making memories."
-- Jerry Sherk
A defensive lineman for the Browns from 1970-81, Sherk said he'd tell the team about how Lou Groza picked him up as at the airport -- Sherk was a rookie coming to town for the first time.
"I was so in awe, I hardly spoke to him," said Sherk.
He'd tell the players about how Morrie Kono, the equipment manager, talked about inventing the face mask to protect quarterback Otto Graham's broken nose. He'd tell the players about meeting Bill Willis, one of the Browns first minority players -- and how Paul Brown quietly broke the color line with Willis and others.
"I'd tell them that they are gathering stories they'll tell for the rest of their lives," he said. "I'd tell them to walk around during the games, look at the people in the stands. Look at the field. Take a moment to take it all in. You are part of something special, cherish it."
"I wish I could still play."
-- Bernie Kosar
Kosar battles a bad back, a right elbow that aches, an ankle that often aches. He also had multiple concussions during his career.
"I'd love to have one more year," said the Browns quarterback from 1985-93. "Nothing matches playing football for a football player. I miss it so much."
Kosar said that younger players believe their careers will never end. They fall into the trap of thinking if it doesn't happen this year, there is always another season.
"Before you know it, your career is over," said Kosar. "Time is short. Do your best. Get your rest. Do the work. Each play, each day matters. Don't put yourself in the position where you look back and wonder what would have happened if you had only done more."