Arian Foster out against Browns on Sunday; Phil Taylor to IR
November 14, 2014Josh Gordon set to return Monday
November 14, 2014Ryan is a younger guy at work who loves the Cleveland Browns. He’s a little immature, and just a bit of a nerd. Not too backwards, however, to preclude a solid shot at growing up by the time he decides he’d like to find a nice woman to settle down with.
I like the guy. He reminds me a lot of myself from back in the day. It doesn’t hurt that he agrees with several of the opinions and predictions I hold. I even found him defending one of them the other day. It was my take that within fifty years, jobs and people will be migrating back to the Great Lakes region from the Sun Belt because of the fresh water supply.
Young guys like Ryan don’t always realize that within the first two weeks of their career in the office where we work, the die is cast. Fair or not, others’ first impressions of them can last for a good ten years or more.
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“Who was the most valuable player in the history of the Cleveland Browns?”
At the beginning of each class, my training group was asked to “go around the room” and state our name and some information about ourselves. Early in our training, each of us was fairly thorough as to the information we shared. We were excited to be there: “My name is Greg; I have a young family of four; I grew up in Northeast Ohio; I am a graduate of the University of Cincinnati; my hobbies include running and playing guitar…not at the same time, of course.”
We had a guy in our group by the name of Zach. His self-introduction during our first class included his experience as a financial analyst. The next class, he instead described himself as a foreman for a roadside construction crew. It went on like this for several days- to begin each new class, he shared a new field of expertise. Introductions became one of the more highly anticipated moments of the week. Before long, while most trainee self-descriptions grew shorter over time (“I’m Greg, I went to UC.”), this wasn’t the case with Zach.
By about the fifth class, when Zach was up: “My name is Zach, and I am a tennis pro.”
Everybody howled. We were out of line, but come on. At that time, there was a professional football player named Kordell Stewart. ((The team he played for is unimportant.)) Stewart was known as “Slash” because he played several positions: quarterback- slash- running back-slash-wide receiver-slash-kick returner. So of course, after his first week on the job, Zach became irrevocably known as “Slash.” Financial analyst-slash-construction foreman-slash…
We learned of Slash’s resignation, about a year later. We were stunned to discover he’d become a resident tennis professional at a high-end tropical resort!
Luckily, Ryan had emerged from his initial training with his reputation largely unscathed.
Recently, Ryan and I each arrived early at the conference room early for our Monday morning meeting. We were gazing past our window reflections into the pre-dawn darkness. Time to talk Browns. He was sipping hot coffee with his elbow extended, apparently in an effort to keep from dribbling on his freshly pressed, white dress shirt. I happened to be aware the shirt was new; Ryan had followed some motherly advice from a more senior woman at the office. She’d given him some valuable coupons from Kohl’s, suggesting he splurge on some nice, two-ply shirts for work. This one almost managed to cover the giant orange and blue Corona Beer logo on the tee shirt he was wearing underneath.
Ryan had a question ready for me, a kindred Browns fan. “Who was the most valuable player in the history of the Cleveland Browns?”
The question was emphasized with direct eye contact. I began to understand this to be a quiz.
Of course, the quickest response would be, “Jim Brown.” There are still plenty of sports followers around that consider him not only to be the finest running back ever, but the best football player, period. But Ryan used the term, “most valuable player.” It was clear this was intentional.
Often, in professional sports, MVP awards are given to players who 1) had a superior season compared to other players, 2) on a winning- preferably a playoff- team. The literally “most valuable” player would seem instead to be the one whose team could least do without. Sometimes that is the best player; sometimes it is not.
In the years immediately following Jim Brown’s retirement, the Cleveland Browns remained elite championship contenders… so, how “valuable” was he, to them?
To be sure, the most valuable player in Browns history certainly was one of the best players during one of their runs at the title. I quickly considered the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, the Kardiac Kids, and the late 1980s.
“Otto Graham.” I could certainly argue that. Let’s go, Ryan, come at me!
“Nope. Want me to tell you?” My eyebrow-raised stare remained steady as I blinked.
“Clay Matthews.”
I sat my cup on the table and exhaled. Hoo boy. I began to loosely channel Lloyd Bentsen. “Ryan, I watched Clay Matthews play. I loved Clay Matthews. I believe Clay Matthews should be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Ryan, Clay Matthews was no Otto Graham.”
Ryan was ready for me. “Here, look at this.” He had his laptop already opened to the pro-football-reference.com “Cleveland Browns Approximate Value Career Register” page.
Sure enough, there was Clay Matthews, ranked No. 1. Jim Brown was second. Third? Offensive tackle Dick Schafrath? A closer look revealed several names that would seem to belong somewhere near the top of such a list: Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar, and Frank Ryan were all up there. But Jim Houston was at No. 11. Michael Dean Perry was at 12. Clarence Scott was 15th. Terrific players, but…
♦♦♦
Conceptually, I don’t have a problem with using a method in an “attempt to put a single number on the… value of a player at any position.” I do not possess an analytics-friendly brain; I favor the eye test, and I absolutely do value some concepts that seem to be an anathema to the saber world, like performance in the ‘clutch.’ But I trust the idea of being able to use mathematical tools, as well. Like I trust the inner workings of a weight scale, or a watch- without really being inclined to understand how they work.
So if a website as respected as pro-football-reference.com ranks Clay Matthews at the top of an all-time Browns player list, I need to pay attention.
Of course, we’re talking about Clay Matthews, Jr. here. He has sons who play football, including Clay III. Bruce, his brother, enjoyed a long NFL career, and has sons who play, as well. Clay, Jr.’s father had also been an NFL player.
‘Our’ Clay Matthews was a mainstay in the Cleveland Browns’ line backing corps from when he was selected in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft. (Tight end Ozzie Newsome was also selected in that first round by the Browns, with a pick they received from the Bears in return for quarterback Mike Phipps.)
Matthews was a leader on those 1980s teams. He was happy-go-lucky with reporters, often defusing tension during interviews. Teammates such as Frank Minnifield have shared how others followed Matthews’ example in not taking pointed questions personally.
The other side of Matthews was his dedication and his drive to succeed. He commonly filled his free time studying opposing teams and honing his approach. He often played on scout teams as the Browns prepared for upcoming games, manning various positions- even quarterback, vs. the second string Browns defense. He said he was increasingly driven to generate big plays during games; if he didn’t record a couple sacks or an interception, it would grate on him.
Some specific visuals come to mind when I think of Clay Matthews.
• Every year, the southern California native would drive his 1973 Mercury Capri to training camp in Ohio. He was proud of his humble ride (it actually had originally been owned by his wife). The old beater would eventually be displayed at one of the Northeast Ohio auto dealerships he owned. We Clevelanders ate that blue-collar stuff right up.
• I loved his play in games versus the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals had some very good backs, and it often seemed that Matthews and James Brooks relished their matchups. Sometimes Brooks would get the better of Matthews; sometimes vice versa. I’d like to find a video of a memory I have of Matthews stopping Brooks out in space, and keeping him on his feet as he repeatedly raked at the football like he was violently strumming ‘up’ on a guitar.
• The 1987 NFL draft. The Browns had a line backing crew that included Clay Matthews, Mike Johnson, and Chip Banks. A strong group. Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer had roster control of the Browns, and dealt Banks to the San Diego Chargers for their Number 5 pick. Rather than take the linebacker on the Browns’ board, Shane Conlan out of Penn State, Schottenheimer selected Mike Junkin out of Duke. The description of Junkin, a “mad dog in a meat market,” still resonates with Browns fans; Junkin washed out.
To be clear, Marty’s decision to deal the talented Banks wasn’t the problem. While some felt he had the physical talent to compare to future Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants (opposing teams were known to game-plan against him), he was a bit of a head case. He’d refused to participate in Marty’s offseason training program in Cleveland, and the coach began to sour on Banks. Clay Matthews was increasingly featured in the Browns’ pass rush. On passing downs, Banks would be taken out of the game. He began to sulk on the sideline. Apparently, Schottenheimer felt the situation wasn’t going to get better. His big mistake was in not following the scouts’ suggestion to select Conlan, who starred for the Bills for years.
• Lateral No. 1. This was the good one. It was in that 1987 season, during the salad days of the Kosar-Schottenheimer Browns. They were beating the Bengals at home, and a lot was going their way. With the Browns threatening to pull away in the second quarter, Matthews picked off a Boomer Esiason pass at the Browns’ 7 yard line that was intended for tight end Rodney Holman. After about 35 yards, he lateraled the ball to Carl Hairston. “Big Daddy” toted the rock another 40 yards, the 6’3”, 270 lb. defensive end delighting the crowd with his ‘speed’ all the way to the Bengals’ 20 yard line. Bernie Kosar converted the touchdown.
• Lateral No. 2. Ugh. In their nationally televised, final game of the 1989 season, the Browns were locked into a typical struggle with divisional opponent Houston. They needed a win over the Oilers to clinch the playoffs, to keep their run going. Kosar had yet another fine day at quarterback.
The Browns led for most of the game. In the fourth quarter, a snap eluded Warren Moon (who’d finish with 414 passing yards). Matthews recovered, and tried to lateral the ball to Chris Pike. Somehow, he sailed the ball well over the head of the 6’8” Pike, and Houston recovered the ball.
Moon hit Drew Hill for the touchdown, and the lead.
The hero at the end was running back Kevin Mack, whom had missed thirteen games that season with drug issues. He plowed into the end zone to ensure the victory.
In a moment I am not proud of, I quit watching the game when Matthews threw the ball away. I was so sick of the Browns blowing big games. I left my Dad’s house for my sister’s, and when I arrived about twenty minutes later, I learned of Mack’s heroics. I thought they were putting me on, at first.
In the playoffs that year, against the Buffalo Bills, the Browns dodged a bullet as Ronnie Harmon dropped a winning Jim Kelly touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the game. (We Browns fans bemoan our misfortune, but I can come up with several instances where Lady Luck was smiling on us.) With three seconds remaining, Kelly was intercepted by Clay Matthews at the 1-yard line. This time, he dropped to his knees as the victory was sealed. Head coach Bud Carson, later: “If Clay would have lateraled that one, I’d have jumped on him.”
• Matthews was let go during Bill Belichick’s roster turnover. He played three more seasons, with the Atlanta Falcons. His performance remained at a high level through his 19th season, at age 40.
♦♦♦
Back to that website. I don’t even see Otto Graham’s name on that list of 1100-plus. Nor fellow Hall of Famers Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Frank Gatski, Bill Willis, or Joe DeLamielleure. Ah—I see that the rankings are post-1950. But still…
“OK Ryan, thanks a lot. Now it looks like I’m not going to get any work done today. Good thing I have a good reputation here at work.
…Right?
Ryan?”
Sources: Cleveland.com | The Cleveland Plain Dealer | LA Times | “Legends by the Lake”
6 Comments
That was quite a draft for the Browns I just wish CM Jr. had been able to follow in his fathers footsteps with the Browns.
I remember all the plays you described, but especially the Houston lateral, like they happened yesterday. Amazing how stressful situations can stay with you in great detail!
My all time favorite Brown’s player. It’s the only Brown’s jersey I have, a washed out faded no 57. Why his number isn’t retired is beyond me.
nice article.
i like the fresh water theory but, from afar, it looks like you could be killing the golden goose by allowing fracking. end it. (my pet theory is more of a two-fer: climate change plus freshwater need equals quebec land-rush and your grandkids will be cursing you for not buying around manicouagan.)
Clay was encouraged because one of his previous laterals had worked – to Carl Hairston, who rumbled the slowest 40 time in history with it. I loved Matthews – a really great all-around LB, played with joy, and often the playmaker who saved the day in Marty’s passive defenses. He says it helped that he entered the league surrounded by lots of good mentors – Jerry Sherk, Charlie Hall, guys like that. It will be great when the Browns can develop their own with that sort of stability again.
Chip Banks – what a waste. Maybe the most physically talented Brown I ever watched, and could change a game when he played hard. Don’t think they mishandled him, not sure if it was drugs or what. But he was out of the league ridiculously quick for a guy who was just dominant.
Btw, I have a video tape of that Bills playoff game. Watched it last year before I tossed our last VCR. The NBC production as Clay intercepts to seal it is timeless: shots of frozen Browns fans unfurling a banner just as Clay genuflects in the end zone, the stadium shaking, despondent Ronnie Harmon, Merlin Olsen intoning: “What. A. Game.”