Vintage Browns by Terry Pluto

Vintage Browns by Terry Pluto

If you remember the Kardiac Kids ... the Dawgs ... the old Stadium ... Bernie and Marty and Ozzie ... this book is for you!

Like a Classic throwback jersey, it recalls favorite players and exciting moments from Cleveland Browns teams of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and more.

They played it old-school.

• Doug Diekenset the NFL record for consecutive starts by a left tackle despite three knee surgeries, broken hands and thumbs, torn tendons, a broken arm and "a concussion or two. Maybe four or six. Hard to know."
• Ozzie Newsomenever expected to play tight end when he was drafted, then practically reinvented the position on his way to the Hall of Fame.
• Bernie Kosarcarried a massive weight on his young shoulders as a hometown hero leading the Browns during years when the team offered a ray of hope to a downtrodden city.
• Earnest Byner and Kevin Macktogether formed one powerhouse backfield and separately dealt admirably with adversity.
• Phil Dawsondiscovered that despite popularity and longevity, "Every kick could be your last."

Also includes:

• Gregg Pruitt
• Brian Sipe
• Marty Schottenheimer
• Reggie Langhorne
• Brian Brennan
• Bill Belichick
• Tim Couch
• Phil Dawson
• and others

These insightful short profiles will entertain Browns fans of any vintage!

The Akron Beacon Journal's Terry Pluto publishes a religion and sports column. He's been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for commentary twice, has been awarded the nation's top sports columnist twice, and is an eight-time Ohio Sportswriter of the Year. He also delivers weekly prison ministry services at the Summit County Prison with his wife.