A few thoughts on a few things as we wrap up the talk about safeties:

*If you had a Mount Rushmore of Browns safeties — that is, a list of the four best safeties ever — it would include Thom Darden, a Sandusky High School priduct; Kenny Konz; Eric Turner; and Felix Wright.

I would love to include Donnie Rogers, but I can’t because he played only two seasons. If he had played a long career with Cleveland, then there’s no doubt in my mind that he would be the best safety in team history.

Here’s a note on each of the four Mount Rushmore safeties:

*Konz — He played on those tremendous defenses during the glory days of the 1950s and was most proud of the fact he led the NFL in punt return average as a rookie in 1953.

*Darden — The ultimate ball hawk, he is the club’s all-time interceptions leader with 45, which is five more than anyone else.

*Turner — He was Bill Belichick’s first NFL Draft pick in 1991.

*Wright — He was the worst nightmare for star Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon, bedeviling him in nearly every game they met.

All four of the Mount Rushmores made it to the playoffs with the Browns.

In taking a look at Browns safeties, something interesting occurred to me. Yes, I stumbled upon it.

That is, Jan. 4 might be — no, it certainly is — the worst date in Browns history other than those dates connected to The Move following the 1995 season.

It was on Jan. 4, 1981 that the Red Right 88 game occurred, the 14-12 loss to the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 AFC divisional playoffs. And it was on Jan. 4, 1986, in the 1985 AFC divisional playoffs, that the Browns blew a 21-3 third-quarter lead and lost 24-21 to the Miami Dolphins.

Steve King