Back in the early months of 1964, after they had dropped five of the last six NFL Championship Games, including just weeks earlier, in the 1963 edition, by a 14-10 score to quarterback Bill Wade and the Chicago Bears, the New York Football Giants, for some inexplicable reason that it is still hard to understand today, conducted a fire sale of all the great players on that team.
Indeed, when you look up “stupid move” in the NFL Dictionary, you see a full story about this perplexing decision.
Anyway, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and as such, the savvy Browns of head coach Blanton Collier were able to trade for one of the best defensive tackles in the game at the time, Dick Modzelewski, the brother of former Cleveland running back, Ed Modzelewski, in early March 1963. Originally, Modzelewski was going to be a backup to starters Frank Parker and the young Jim Kanicki, but when Parker broke his leg and was lost for the season, he stepped in. And did he ever.
Modzelewski had an outstanding regular season, helping the Browns to their first Eastern Conference title in seven years. The only thing that was better was his performance in the NFL title game against Baltimore, when he helped stonewall the middle of the great Colts offensive line as Cleveland, a heavy underdog, won in resounding fashion, 27-0.
It was another example of the value of adding great players, no matter the time of year or the position.
I say all this — provide yet another Browns history story, or analogy, as it were — because it is believed once again that the San Francisco 49ers are interested in dealing disgruntled — but extremely talented — wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Wide receiver is one of the weakest positions on the Browns. In fact, it may be the weakest. They could use another big-timer to go along with Amari Cooper.
If the Browns are truly interested in getting to their first Super Bowl, and, of course, winning it, then they should do everything they possibly can to try to see if they can pry Aiyuk away from the 49ers, if indeed he’s available.
Steve King
