New special teams coordinator Ray Ventrone, who also played for the club as a defensive back/special teamer from 2009-12, is only the second figure in Browns history to have the nickname of “Bubba.”

The first was former defensive end Al “Bubba” Baker, who did two stints with the Browns, in 1987 and then again from 1989 to ’90. In between, he played five seasons for the Detroit Lions, who made him a second-round pick in the 1978 NFL Draft out of Colorado. He then went to the St. Louis Cardinals for four seasons, the Browns, the Minnesota Vikings for one year and then back to the Browns to finish his 13-year career.

Baker was a tremendous sack artist, being credited with an unofficial total of 131 sacks, which would be the most in NFL history. His official total of 65.5 is still outstanding (that would make him fourth in Browns history if he had played his entire career for them), but he has always been adversely affected by the fact he played his first four seasons before the NFL made sacks an official statistic in 1982.

Ventrone had a nice 10-year career made up of stints with the New England Patriots, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers in addition to the Browns, but it was nothing compared to that of Baker. Where they are similar, though, is that they were both very emotional, playing with a fire in their belly. Coaches never had to charge them up so they would give it their all. They did that on their own.

 It’s what made Bubba Baker such a great player.

And that, just like another energetic, passionate Browns special teams coordinator from back in the day by the name of Bill Cowher, may make Bubba Ventrone a good coordinator in Cleveland, and more.

Steve King