The Best Browns Since 1999 – Left Guard

It might be safe to say by this point that Eric Steinbach is the best free agent pickup for the Browns since 1999. This is probably true even despite Steinbach missing all of the 2011 season with a back injury and subsequent surgery.

In second place, Ross Verba played guard for the Browns from 2001-04. In that time Verba started every Browns game except one in 2001. Nationally Verba is known for failing to pay a gambling debt and other troubles with the law related to bad checks. For Browns fans he’s second best, though.

Joe Andruzzi was an import from the New England Patriots.  He signed a 4-year, $9 million deal with the Browns to leave the Super Bowl champs. He was at the end of his usefulness as a player physically, but you couldn’t help but like the guy.  Andruzzi played 13 games in 2005 and 14 in 2006 before retiring and successfully battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Steve Zahursky is your inaugural left guard.  He played with the Browns from 1999-2000 before being released in August of 2001.

 Barry Stokes is the definition of journeyman.  He played with the Browns from 2002-03.  In his career he played with the Lions, Jags, Rams, Dolphins, Packers, Raiders, Packers (again,) Browns, Giants, Falcons, Lions (again,) and the Patriots.  Let’s just say if you can’t be a lefty pitcher it is good to be 6’4″ and 310 pounds.

Jason Pinkston comes in 6th on the list.  The 24-year-old fifth rounder had a decent rookie campaign filling in for Eric Steinbach.  The Browns are apparently still pretty high on him.  Assuming Steinbach is healthy, Pinkston could compete for right guard and backup spots in 2012.

Jim Pyne will forever go down in history as the guy who was selected first by the Browns in the expansion draft.  Pyne ended up playing for the Browns for two years and ended up playing just seven NFL seasons.

Enoch Demar was cut by Romeo Crennel a year after starting 11 games.  He never played again.

And there you have it.  It is a top-heavy list, shall we say?  The other good news is that Jason Pinkston still has a chance to be a solid backup, if not starter in the NFL.  He was lucky to have his first experience book-ended by Joe Thomas and Alex Mack.  We’ll see if he can take a spot this upcoming season.

Offensive Line – Left Tackle | Left Guard | Center | Right Guard | Right Tackle

Pass Catchers – Wide Receivers | Tight Ends

Runners – Running Backs | Fullbacks

Special Teams