The 1999 Cleveland Expansion Team

[Gary Najman]

As far as I know there were no players on that 1999 roster that had played for the original Browns.

T Orlando Brown Sr. and CB Antonio Langham did play with the 1995 and 1999 Browns.

[Gary Najman]

As far as I know there were no players on that 1999 roster that had played for the original Browns.

T Orlando Brown Sr. and CB Antonio Langham did play with the 1995 and 1999 Browns.

On a side note (correct me if I'm wrong) of the 1995 Browns roster, only DE Rob Burnett and K Matt Stover were on the 2000 Ravens Super Bowl winning team.

[Gary Najman]

On a side note (correct me if I'm wrong) of the 1995 Browns roster, only DE Rob Burnett and K Matt Stover were on the 2000 Ravens Super Bowl winning team.

[Oszuscik]

I can't imagine being a lifelong Browns fan and seeing the decades-long run of success that the Ravens have had, knowing that should be *my* team.

Here's the real question: if the team had not moved, would they have won the Super Bowl as the Cleveland Browns in 2000 and 2012? Is there anything about the actual move that fundamentally changed the makeup of that organization? Would Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Jamal Lewis, Brian Billick, John Harbaugh, and so on, still have been members of that franchise?

[Brian wolf]

I believe so Osz ... because the Browns had Ozzie Newsome, who learned from Belichick, Modell and others. With Marchibroda not being renewed after 1995--along with Belichick in Cleveland--he still might have been hired as the Browns coach? Of course if the Browns stay in Cleveland, would Modell have retained Belichick?
I am not sure if he even liked him?

Due to Marchibroda's knowledge and linkage to the Colts and Memorial Stadium, it had to be compelling for Modell to hire him, but had the team stayed in Cleveland, could he have went with another hot assistant or a coach he coveted? Imagine the Browns going after the deposed Don Shula?

[ShinobiMusashi]

I don't know that Belichick leaves if the Browns never go through the moving drama. That was a good team in 94, and were doing good in 95 until all that went down. If they never move I'm sure that team does better in 95, he had just won a playoff game in 94 over Parcells. Without the move to Baltimore I believe that Browns team is much better in 95 maybe wins another playoff game or hell possibly even trip to AFCCG or Super Bowl, there's no way to really tell what that team looks like in 96-97-98 still in Cleveland with Belichick secure in his job. So conceivably Belichick stays on, they draft Ray Lewis and put that defense together just like Ozzie Newsome did, but maybe the Browns are the ones that take Tom Brady in the 2000 draft if Belichick is still there. So without the move you are possibly talking about a return to dynasty for the Cleveland Browns, like a long 20+ year reign over the NFL with lord knows how many rings. Bonkers to think about really.

[7DnBrnc53]

If Belichick stays, him and Michael Lombardi (the director of player personnel) would have been in charge of the draft moving forward, not Newsome. So, I don't know if they do as good of a job (they probably don't. I know one person on line who referred to Lombardi as a hack).

[Brian wolf]

According to Pro Football-Reference, in 1995, Belichicks last year in Cleveland, Newsome was Director of Pro Personnel.

[ShinobiMusashi]

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... php?t=2447