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Fansided

10 greatest Cleveland Browns of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

American professional football player Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball towards the defensive line of the New York Giants, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, September 16, 1962. The Browns won 17 to 7. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
American professional football player Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball towards the defensive line of the New York Giants, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, September 16, 1962. The Browns won 17 to 7. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA: Clay Matthews of the Cleveland Browns circa 1986 against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.. (Photo by Owen C, Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA: Clay Matthews of the Cleveland Browns circa 1986 against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.. (Photo by Owen C, Shaw/Getty Images) /

4. OLB Clay Matthews Jr.

There are many that feel that linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. is Hall of Fame worthy. But he still hasn’t gotten the call from Canton, Ohio, despite an impressive 19-year career with the Cleveland Browns and latter, the Atlanta Falcons.

He could certainly get after opposing quarterbacks as evidenced by an unofficial total of 76.5 sacks with the franchise (courtesy of the Cleveland Browns and Ben Axelrod of WKYC). That’s because the National Football League didn’t make individual sacks an official statistic until 1982, four years after Matthews entered the league.

What is very official was the fact that the former USC standout has played in 232 games for the franchise from 1978-93. He totaled a combined 27 takeaways with the club – 14 interceptions and 13 fumbles recoveries – returning one of each for a touchdown. He was also credited with 24 forced fumbles.

Matthews totaled at least 100 tackles in eight of his 16 contests with the franchise. He was an incredibly productive player and was effective for the Falcons in three seasons with that club. Will he ever be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

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