10 greatest Cleveland Browns of all time

The Browns are well represented when it comes to pro football history.

The Cleveland Browns were born in the All-America Football Conference in 1946. During that league’s four-year run, the club won every championship. The franchise then became part of the NFL in 1950 and would win a title that first year. They would capture consecutive championships in 1954 and ’55 as well as a fourth title in 1964.

Of course, that original entity known as the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 and became the Ravens. The current Browns are an expansion team born in 1999 and have certainly had their struggles over the last two-plus decades.

But this is a look at the total history of the Browns and that includes both incarnations. And while most of its greatest players were on the field during that first tenure, there is one very notable exception.

10. WR Paul Warfield

You could argue he became a bigger name with the Miami Dolphins than he did during his two stints with the Cleveland Browns. Regardless, he was a star in both venues and one of the great big-play performers in league history.

First things first and that’s his overall numbers, which are not only impressive but somewhat stunning when it comes to that 20.1 career yards per reception in 13 NFL seasons.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer totaled 427 catches for 8,565 yards and 85 touchdowns in 157 regular-season contests. In eight campaigns with the Browns from 1964-69 and again in 1976 and ’77, the former Ohio State standout amassed 271 catches for 5,210 yards (19.2 average) and 52 TDs.

Warfield was an eight-time Pro Bowler and earned three of those invitations with the Browns. Fellow Hall of Famer Dante Lavelli warrants consideration as well. But the one-time Buckeye was electrifying indeed.