Thomas, Dawson and Cribbs
The expansion era has not been kind to the Browns.
Newsflash, huh?
That’s like saying a tornado is an unfortunate event.
Indeed, the success of the original Browns franchise did not exactly carry over to the reborn one. It has been an unmitigated disaster, and that’s putting it mildly.
But the expansion era, which began in 1999, has not been a total loss in one respect. There have been three incredible players. In fact, they are the three top players at their positions in Browns history overall, covering both eras. And one of them, former left tackle Joe Thomas, will be honored Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium when the Browns meet the New York Jets in their home opener.
Yes, Thomas was a better left tackle than even Pro Football Hall of Famer Lou Groza.
And Phil Dawson, another outstanding expansion era player, was a better kicker than Groza.
The last of the three great Browns is a special player indeed, punt returner and punt and kick coverage man Josh Cribbs, a Kent State product who is the best special teams player in club history.
We remember these former stars fondly. There just wasn’t much around them.
Steve King
Browns elevate LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DT Roderick Perry II to active roster – Provided by the Browns Media Center
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have elevated LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DT Roderick Perry II to the active roster from the practice squad.
Kunaszyk (pronounced kuh-NAW-shick) is in his fourth NFL season out of California. Originally signed by the Carolina as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he spent his rookie campaign with the Panthers before spending the past two seasons (2020-21) with Washington. Kunaszyk has appeared in 27 career games, including last week’s game at Carolina. He will wear No. 51.
Perry is an undrafted rookie out of Illinois, where he started 50 games. He will wear No. 64.
*A club can carry up to 55 players on its roster during a given week by elevating one or two players from its practice squad prior to the transaction deadline that precedes the game. The rule allows teams a larger pool from which to select their 47 or 48 game-day active players. Any player elevated from the practice squad for this purpose will immediately revert to his team’s practice squad the day following the game.
