The Browns don’t recognize the statistics from the All-America Football Conference for their alums who played both in that league, of which the team was a member from 1946–49, and then the NFL.

Only the stats from the NFL, to which the Browns moved in 1950 after the AAFC disbanded, are officially recognized by the club.

But if those AAFC numbers were included, would it change those players’ Browns career numbers much, and how they are viewed by many fans, especially in the younger age brackets?

Yes, emphatically so, on the first part of that question, and also on the second part, I have to believe.

To illustrate that, let’s look at four icons, all of whom are Pro Football Hall of Famers, who spent time in both leagues and led the Browns’ incredible success in those early seasons.

QUARTERBACK OTTO GRAHAM

NFL (1950-55) — 872 completions in 1,565 passing attempts (55.7 percent) for 13,499 yards and 88 touchdowns with 94 interceptions.

AAFC (1946-49) — 592 completions in 1,061 passing attempts (55.8 percent) for 10,085 yards and 86 touchdowns with 41 interceptions.

OVERALL (1946-55) — 1,464 completions in 2,626 passing attempts (55.8 percent) for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns with 135 
interceptions.


FULLBACK MARION MOTLEY

NFL (1950–53) — 337 rushing attempts for 1,696 yards (5.0 average) and five touchdowns.

AAFC (1946-49) — 489 rushing attempts for 3,024 yards (6.2 average) and 26 touchdowns.

OVERALL (1946-53) — 826 rushing attempts for 4,720 yards (5.8 average) and 31 touchdowns.


WIDE RECEIVER DANTE LAVELLI

NFL (1950-56) — 244 receptions for 3,908 yards (16.0 average) and 33 touchdowns.

AAFC (1946-49) — 142 receptions for 2,580 yards (18.2 average) and 29 touchdowns.

OVERALL (1946-56) — 386 receptions for 6,488 yards (16.8 average) and 62 touchdowns.


WIDE RECEIVER MAC SPEEDIE

NFL (1950-52) — 138 receptions for 2,048 yards (14.8 average) and nine touchdowns. 

AAFC (1946-49) — 211 receptions for 3,554 yards (16.8 average) and 24 touchdowns.

OVERALL (1946-52) — 349 receptions for 5,602 yards (16.1 average) and 33 touchdowns

Steve King