Everyone else in the media has forgotten about the Browns’ best bets for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I refuse to do so.

Why?

Because it’s important. It means something.

Now, I fully realize that this interest will likely mean nothing. That is, sadly, it would take a miracle for these men to be enshrined. But you just can’t quit and forget them. Our voice becomes their voice, and that of their family if they have passed away.

There are three former players who, beyond any question, deserve to be in the HOF:

*Wide receiver Gary Collins — He caught 72 touchdown passes in the 1960s, which was unheard of then because of the way defenders could mug past receivers without being called for pass interference. And in the biggest moment of his career, in the 1964 NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Stadium, he caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Frank Ryan against the bert defense in football in a 27-0 victory.

*Left tackle Dick Schafrath — The product of Wooster High School and Ohio State also played in that title game, protecting Ryan’s blind side to give him time to throw those scoring passes and opening holes for Jim Brown to gain 114 yards rushing. He blocked for three HOF backs in all in Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly, and made it to the Pro Bowl six times.

*Outside linebacker Clay Matthews — Not just a great player for a long time — he spent 16 years in Cleveland and then three more with the Atlanta Falcons — but he was also the most versatile linebacker in the game in that he never had to come off the field since he could defend against the run, play in pass coverage and rush the passer. He is second on the Browns all-time sacks list, behind only Myles Garrett.

 Steve King