Cleveland Browns: Ranking the 20 best former players since 1999

5) C Alex Mack

Started 101 games out of 112
Pro Bowler (3x) – 2010, 2013 and 2015
Second-Team All-Pro (1x ) – 2013
– Before Mack went off to play for the Atlanta Falcons, he was a staple of the offensive line. He and Joe Thomas anchored some bad teams, no doubt, but they were arguably the two best parts of the team no matter what other turmoil was going on. Mack’s a future Hall of Famer, with six Pro Bowls in his career (three in Cleveland). Leaving was the right move for him, as he’s gone to the SuperBowl since leaving and The Browns remain The Browns

4) KR/PR Joshua Cribbs

Punt Returns: 2,154 yards
Kick Returns: 10,015 yards
Receiving: 1,161 yards
Rushing: 753 yards
Total Yards: 14,083
Total TD’s: 20
Pro Bowler (3x) – 2007, 2009, and 2012
First-Team All-Pro (2x) – 2007, 2009
– If the NFL cared more about special team’s contributions, Cribbs would be a Hall of Famer. A better all-around player than Devin Hester, Cribbs did everything for the Browns.  As a former Quarterback from Kent State, Cribbs came into the league unsure of what his future would be and ended up making his career one the fans will never forget. An icon in Cleveland, Cribbs proved you didn’t need to be a high draft pick to make an impact, just have the guts to do anything it takes to make it, and by god he did.

3) K Phil Dawson

305 of 363 field goals made (84% accuracy)
1,271 points
Pro Bowler (1x) – 2012
Second-Team All-Pro (2x) – 2007 and 2012
–  Like Cribbs as well, Phil Dawson would be a future Hall of Famer if the NFL cared about special teams. Dawson was the most efficient kicker for the Browns since their return to the NFL. He’s maybe one of, if not the best, ever to dawn the orange and brown as a kicker. Dawson not only put up amazing numbers, but he also did it in terrible weather. It’s hard enough to get into the NFL as a kicker, but to last twenty years? That’s beyond impressive. He’ll always be one of the most beloved players in Browns’ history.

2) CB Joe Haden

Interceptions – 19
Defensive TD – 1
Tackles – 370
Pro Bowler (2x) – 2013, and 2014
Second-Team All-Pro (1x) – 2013
– Joe Haden is the most disappointing addition to this list because there’s no good reason why he shouldn’t still be on the team. At only 30 years old, the former two-time Pro Bowler now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers where he’s started every game of his tenure. Haden was well on his way to being a legend in Cleveland before Sashi Brown made the stupid decision to cut him. Thanks for nothing.

1) LT Joe Thomas

Started 167 straight games
Played in 10,363 consecutive snaps on offense, most all time
since the stat was recorded in 1999
Pro Bowler (10x) – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016
– What needs to be said about the best tackle in the history of the National Football League?  Thomas never missed a game until his injury in 2017. He could have kept playing, but Thomas opted to retire. He’s talked about how his health isn’t great anymore, and football probably has a lot to do with it. Since retirement, he continues to be a big Browns supporter and even hosts a podcast talking about the Browns and other things with former teammate Andrew Hawkins, called the ThomaHawk Show

Thomas’ iconic legacy in Cleveland will be well remembered, and never forgotten. As fans, we hoped he’d get to the playoffs just once, but we’re just thankful he stuck around with us. Loyalty like his is hard to come by these days.