Cleveland Browns: The unofficial 2000-2009 All-Decade team
By Chad Porto
Offense
This is going to be a universal issue with this decade, as the teams weren’t that good. So a lot of talent on here is, well, a stretch to say the least. So keep that in mind as you wave your head back and forth questioning the sanity of those involved.
QB Tim Couch
It’s hard to deny that Tim Couch should be here. He led the team to the playoffs in 2002 and played well that year and the year prior.
QB Derek Anderson
The only Pro Bowl quarterback since 1999 as of this writing.
RB Jamal Lewis
It’s a bit odd that the Baltimore Ravens top running back from this era is also the Browns but hey, the team was a joke back then.
RB Reuben Droughns
Like Lewis before him, Reuben Droughns was another team’s (Denver) best runner before coming to Cleveland.
RB Jamel White
He had three straight seasons of 900+ all-purpose yards.
FB Lawerence Vickers
The best fullback the Browns have had since 1999.
WR Kevin Johnson
Easily the best wide-out the Browns had for the first four years of the team’s existence, and one of three men to top 1,000 yards receiving in the decade.
WR Dennis Northcutt
Dennis Northcutt had six years of 500+ all-purpose yard seasons, five of which were of 800 yards or more, and three of them were 1,000 yards.
WR Antonio Bryant
Only three wide receivers have had 1,000-yards receiving years and Antonio Bryant had one of them.
WR Braylon Edwards
Braylon Edwards has the third 1,000 yard receiving seasons.
WR Joe Jurevicius
While his career was cut short due to a staph infection the Browns failed to protect him against, he had two very good years in the twilight of his career.
TE Steve Heiden
A good all-around player but never did one thing great. Played the most snaps at the position for the decade.
TE Aaron Shea
A great run blocker and valuable sixth blocker for a line that needed all the help it could get.
TE Kellen Winslow
He’s a bastard.
OT Joe Thomas
Eat your heart out Tom Brady, Joe Thomas is the best offensive linemen the Browns have ever had in any decade full stop. Not even Lou Groza is on his level, and he’s on most people’s level.
OG Eric Steinbach
Like Thomas, Eric Steinbach gets on both of my All-Decades team lists and does so easily. Besides maybe Joel Bitonio currently, Steinbach is the second-best linemen to put on a Browns jersey since 1999.
OT Ross Verba
Not a great human being, but Ross Verba was one of two linemen who were actually valuable during those first few years.
CEN Dave Wohlabaugh
Dave Wohlabaugh may soon see his sons follow him into the NFL and if they happen to make it, they’ll have big shoes to fill as Wohlabaugh was a great player who often got overlooked.
OL Shaun O’Hara
He got his recognition and Pro Bowl selections, hell even a few SuperBowls but those came in New York.
OL Ryan Tucker
Shocking a long term player for the Browns, playing seven years at several positions. Won a SuperBowl in St. Louis before joining the Browns.
CEN Jeff Faine
The Browns always have had good centers, and Jeff Faine was no different. He never made a Pro Bowl but was a viable starter wherever he went.
CEN Alex Mack
Like Steinbach and Thomas, Mack makes both of the Decade teams. A future Hall of Famer and could’ve unseated Bitonio and Steinbach as the second-best Browns offensive linemen had he stuck around.
OG Joe Andruzzi
A former SuperBowl winner with the New England Patriots, Joe Andruzzi came over to the Browns during the Romeo Crenel at the end of his career but played admirably.
OL Hank Fraley
Played four seasons at center and guard for the Browns and was the offensive line leader during the 2007 10-win season.