Young Buckeyes top Gators and pass early season test
November 16, 2011That Really Cool Browns Play from Sunday? Yeah, that was Illegal.
November 16, 2011I’ve been having an ongoing discussion with National Football Authority’s Daniel Wolf this season about Cleveland’s choice of uniforms. I am the self-proclaimed site Uni-Nerd. I wear the badge with pride actually. Whether discussing my favorite non-Cleveland uniforms, or reviewing the best jersey numbers in Cleveland sports or just giving my opinion on sports fashion here and there, I love to talk about the laundry.
So this year, the Browns decided that they will wear the all whites at home. They did this for two reasons, according to Wolf’s piece here–
“The team is honoring Paul Brown, and his team’s, by bringing back the white-on-white uniforms for all home games this season,” said Gulkis. Fans have seen the Browns wear their brown jerseys with white pants at home, in seasons past, but they are going with the old-school look this year.
“We listen to our fans and they wanted white-on-white at home,” said Gulkis.
Now, I’m all for honoring the past with uniforms- to an extent of course. I wonder sometimes if some fans even know that the team is not named after the color, nor the great running back, but a former coach Paul Brown. It is also interesting that the team honors him by removing as much brown from the uniforms as possible.
The problem, and one that we saw coming on opening weekend, was that if the Browns choose to wear all white at home, they may just wear them all the time this season.
Home teams get to choose whether they wear white or their colors. The majority of the league goes with colored jerseys at home, with the most notable exception being the Cowboys, who wear the whites in Dallas regularly. Sometimes warm weather teams like the Dolphins will choose to wear white in the early part of the season to try and stay cooler. Chances are, that none of the teams left on the Browns road schedule will opt to wear white. Arizona, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have all worn colored tops every home game this season.
So the Browns may be ‘brownless’ all season long.
So what you say?
I’m sure there are those who could care less about what combination of uniforms the Browns wear. Like every other fan out there, I would probably not care a lick if they were winning regularly. (Probably.) The fact is, they aren’t winning. They are for the most part a bit like the bland uniforms they are sporting all season- plain and uninspiring.
How about a little variety? How about some orange pants with those white tops? Now that was a look. Why not wear the Brown tops again for the remaining three home games? I’m sure Paul Brown won’t be dishonored.
I’ll say it. The all white look was great for a game or two at home as a novelty, but it is BORING for an entire season.
Ok, carry on arguing about Peyton Hillis, Shurmur, McCoy and handing off to fullbacks.
63 Comments
I like the Brown uniforms, plus those Grass stains on Colt’s back would be a lot less prevalent on a Brown #12 jersey.
Your fashion sense lost credibility with your failure and refusal to diagram actual plays involving the white uni. C’mon man, step it up, show us how scintillating the 2 yard pass can be with a splash of color.
Just because the Browns have mailed it in doesn’t mean you must as well.
Im with you man. First thing is first. Bring back the 80s browns uniforms…not because because we long for those teams (ok…we do), but also because the uni’s were way cooler. We first have to lose the numbers on the shoulder pads. The striping is all off too. Either way, we suck.
On another note, I hearing Colt had a better game last week. I am really hoping they put him in shotgun more. They need to do that.
You will not trick me into multiple Film Room posts Harv!
i’m with Harv….this article would have kept my attention much better had it been filled with still shot video breakdown of the Reebok sweatshop actually stitching the uni’s together accompanied by Rick’s keen eye description of what is actually unfolding.
in short, it’s wednesday Rick….where’s the film room article? 🙂
on the jersey note. I absolutely hate the white on white uni’s. i agree completely with the “boring” term being used to describe them.
i’ve remarked a few times this year to the old man on the lack of the brown jersey or the orange pants.
the brown jersey and orange pant combo is my favorite of them all.
PS – if you want to pay tribute to Paul Brown…then win something. Paul rolled over in his grave upon hearing Donovan make the call that McCoy just handed off the ball to his TE in the backfield.
I think you are confusing Wednesday with Thursday, which is the day I’ve been publishing the Film Room pieces. With one Friday exception.
As long as they never ever wear the brown pants again I’ll be alright with whatever combination they wear.
Love the all whites all the time. They’re kind of virginal.
@8 – Pat is saving himself for when his team scores 20 points at home. Then, it’ll be browns jerseys all the time.
@Christopher: well if Rick’s going to the factory, I want video, a you tube link. “Mr. Rogers Goes to the Sweatshop.” Ok, that’s tasteless, just a big Mr. R site tour fan.
Rick, I implore you, not the FG miss tomorrow. Alex Smith in the backfield, Cribbs swings arms as he runs, just anything but that.
I’m cool with the all whites as well. CLE’s color scheme is tough to change up much without looking like 53 guys are converging on a downtown hunting trip.
What nobody is talking about with the Alex Smith handoff, is that the Browns had success earlier in the game with a Marecic hard nosed run for a first down.
I’d love to have the Orange jerseys back. Those make me smile every time:
http://www.ssur.org/news/items/2002/200210/images/ClevelandBrowns_orange_jersey_inside.jpg
I’m sure no one else will agree…but bring back the orange jerseys!
I mentioned this on my Twitter (@eguelch) on Monday citing the same reasoning: we need some kind of change. I LOVE the orange jerseys and orange pants, either mixed in with the browns or with the whites. BRING BACK THE ORANGE!!
White on white is ugly! Need to wear Brown tops at home with orange pants. On the road wear whit tops with orange pants. Those are the best options. I think white on white looks bad for any sports team not just the browns.
They should honor Paul Brown by winning, or wearing single bar masks, but preferably the first one
there’s something about the Brown tops @ home that just gets me pumped for football. At least until the game starts, then the team usualy has taken that from me.
Not a fan of all white.
The only thing worse than the orange jerseys were the brown pants. It’s a good thing David Modell isn’t still around, or we’d be wearing those, along with the usual Nike stripes hideousness.
When the Browns do wear their brown jerseys, they need to bring back the striped socks. The all-dark socks are boring.
@Harv
how about a shot by shot breakdown of Pat’s face from the time the FG unit runs onto the field to the moment they leave after missing said field goal?
…..oh wait, it never changed between those two points. nevermind.
My favorite jersey combo for the Browns has always been brown tops and orange pants.
I like the white on white look. The problem is that we don’t have any football players inside of those uniforms.
There is a Facebook page to being back orange pants and I couldn’t agree more. It would be a HUGE boost to our swag. Please help start it up andmake it happen next season.
@Rick – I’ve heard on the old interwebs that when Nike takes over the NFL uniforms next year that a lot of teams will see major changes to uniforms, colors and logos. A rebranding if you will. Obviously, the teams themselves would have to agree to this and many already have. It has been said that the NFL will look quite differently next season. Have you heard the same? Any word on changes for our Browns?
My most favorite uniforms in pro football are the Browns all whites, with the old school Charger powder blue with the big numbers on the side of the helmets a close second. When I was a kid, I started revolting against the Browns when they started wearing brown jerseys with orange pants…hideously ugly, and a slap in the face to the Paul Brown, Otto Graham, Jim Brown and Bernie Kosar eras. Also, there is no color I hate more than brown. (Ok, pink maybe, but it’s close.) Hardly a coincidence that they started to wear those combos in the 70s, when teams in all sports were trying to out-ugly each other.
Look, if the Browns were winning, all people would say is that they look great in the old school unis. But because they’re losing, people want to look for any way to either stop the losing or find a scapegoat (unis). The offensive talent needs a major upgrade; the unis are beautiful and just fine.
One more thing: BRING BACK BROWNIE!!!
@Mark
There have been all kinds of things said about the uniform changes that Nike will bring, but the NFL has a pretty strict uniform policy, and any changes have to be approved quite a bit in advance.
I think what you will see quickly would be altering of stripes and accents like on the Nike college uniforms.
Regardless of what Nike would like to do, the teams ultimately have the final say on what their uniform will look like, and the Browns have shown an amazing resistance to change over the years. Traditionalists should be pleased with the Browns’ uniforms for a while I’m sure.
@Mark
For more on the Nike uniform influence read this piece from Paul Lukas, starting halfway down “Looking forward to next season”.
http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/6937142/uni-watch-ponders-nike-future-nfl-jersey-design
@21 – I agree completely. Brown jerseys w/ orange pants is the best look for our team.
@stin4u – brown pants are not necessarily a bad thing. the recent incarnation of those pants were wretched. however, if you add the white/orange/white piping to brown pants, then they look quite good (with white or orange jerseys only)
I like the all-white unis at home because it takes me back to the mid-80s when I started watching the Browns (also, coincidentally, the last time they were worth watching). Marty was the guy behind the white tops starting with his coaching reign. I think it was Carson who went back to the brown tops at home in 89. And then, of course, it was downhill from there performance-wise.
Actually, the browns were named the Brown Bombers after Joe Louis, but it was shortened to “Browns” because of Paul Brown.
There’s my nerdy history lesson of the day.
Love the orange pants of the Kardiac Kids days but save ’em for win this team is actually decent. Until then keep the boring ugly predominant white uniforms.
I would like to see the old “Brownie” logo incorporated more into the unis. They need something to shake it up. I mean, tradition is good and all, but what tradition does this team have other than being one of four current teams to have never reached a Super Bowl? And that list includes the newbie Texans and Jags. Ugh…
They are the BROWNS. They should wear BROWN jerseys. Brown jersey/orange pants would be a cool combo to bring back.
The orange jerseys were weak, but the worst was the white top/brown pants from a couple years back.
An all white flag means surrender.
@Matt – are you saying we should go with the throwback white helmets to make sure there is no doubt there?
1. No brown pants. Ever. Looked terrible with the whites, and monochromatic dark unis rarely look good.
2. Brown jerseys at home. Lyon is right, the Brown tops at home just brings a different feel to the occasion. Orange pants are ideal here, but white pants are fine.
3. White jerseys on the road. The white-on-white is a great look, just not 16 games a season. Orange pants would be nice, at least occasionally.
4. Orange jerseys once a year, just to mix it up. But for the love of all that is holy, NOT with orange pants. Same reasoning for avoiding brown-on-brown.
@30/Right Side: Thank you, hate it that everyone weirdly assumes the team named itself after it’s new coach, as if they new he was a legend before his first professional game. If I had a dime for every network guy that repeats that …
Nerd on.
knew
@30 & @37
Seriously? I’m actually kind of depressed that they’re NOT named after the coach but after an idol in a different sport. Is there something I’m missing where Louis has a tie to Cleveland in some way? Or is just like someone now naming a new team the IRON MIKES?
Ugh, that’s depressing.
Or am I just a gullible idiot?
“CLEVELAND BROWNS –
The Cleveland All-America Football Conference franchise conducted a fan contest in 1945 to name the team. The most popular submission was “Browns” in recognition of the team’s first coach and general manager Paul Brown, who was already a popular figure in Ohio sports. Brown at first vetoed the choice and the team selected from the contest entries the name “Panthers.” However, after an area businessman informed the team that he owned the rights to the name Cleveland Panthers, from an earlier failed football team, Brown rescinded his objection and agreed to the use of his name.”
http://www.profootballhof.com/history/nicknames.aspx
It used to be on the Browns main website, but was taken down. Here is an old blurb on how both myths started (from that old page):
One popular myth is that the team was named after the popular boxing champion, Joe Louis, “The Brown Bomber.” The truth, according to several published reports, is this:
When owner Arthur McBride brought an AAFC team to Cleveland in 1945, he held a newspaper contest to name the team and offered a $1,000 war bond to the winner. Most of the entries submitted wanted the name Browns, because the extremely popular Paul Brown was the team’s head coach.
Coach Brown thought it wouldn’t be proper to name the team after him, and the entry “Panthers” was selected. A few weeks later, a man approached McBride and said he owned a semi-pro team in the 20’s called the Cleveland Panthers and he still owned the rights to the name.
McBride could have bought the man off but Brown vetoed the idea. The coach didn’t want the new team to be associated with a losing franchise. Instead of holding a new contest, Brown reluctantly agreed to name the team Browns. But, in sticking with his original ideals, Brown suggested publicly that since Louis was “The Brown Bomber”, that was how the team got its name. Not a single entry in the contest listed Louis or his nickname as a reason for choosing “Browns.”
Read more: How did the Cleveland Browns get their name? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/8962#ixzz1duK5wsyD
I would like to see the old “Brownie” logo incorporated more into the unis.
I agree with that JRS19! It would look sweet at midfield (you could do that one year in the Madden game).
@41 But why the focus on Louis, is what I don’t get? Just because he was a good boxer?
??? boxing was much bigger back then and Joe was the HW champ for 9 years running in ’46 (and took it to 12). still, he was from Alabama, so not exactly local ties.
it would be like Houston naming their team the Tigers after Tiger Woods when they were an expansion franchise (and Tiger was in the midst of his dominance in an individual sport).
Thanks Rick. That was a good link. I stop by Uni Watch every now and then but must have missed it. The more I think about it, I believe it was Darren Rovell on twitter who was promoting the big changes Nike would bring. I tend to think Paul Lukas is on the mark however.
Brown jerseys, orange pants, orange helmet (no logo): best uniform in all of sports.
If you want to see a great site on pro football uniforms, go to The Gridiron Uniform Database:
http://gridironuniforms.com/
All whites make them look goofy. Can’t think of a better word. Even the gazelle like athleticism of Eric Metcalf looked goofy in the all whites.
Had they added stripes to the Brown pants, they would have looked fine.
the problem is the colors..period. Brown is the most un-athletic color one can pick. Orange is just plain bad–combined with brown it’s horrid. Orange with purple (Clemson) or black (Bengals) or blue (broncos) is fine. if it were up to me, i’d also drop the pumpkin helmet and go back to the original white helmet and put the brownie elf on the helmet as the logo. white pants with brown or white jersey at home, wht/wht on road and an alternate orange jersey with wht pants. i’d go with “UCLA” style shoulder stripes and much wider pant stripes than what they currently have…
@Gman
Like the idea on the UCLA style stripes down the shoulder pads. The concept art of the Browns Nike uniforms from the Chicago Tribune article are my favorite with the stripes much wider (a la UCLA) located on the undershirt.
Have to disagree about the elf on the helmet….talk about “un-athletic”.