Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Browns: 5 most hated Pittsburgh Steelers since 1999

By Chad Porto

Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH – JANUARY 5: Tommy Maddox #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers eyes his pass as Alvin McKinley #70 of the Cleveland Browns tries to knock it down while being blocked by Marvel Smith #77 and Keydrick Vincent #68 during the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2002 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 36-33. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH – JANUARY 5: Tommy Maddox #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers eyes his pass as Alvin McKinley #70 of the Cleveland Browns tries to knock it down while being blocked by Marvel Smith #77 and Keydrick Vincent #68 during the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2002 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 36-33. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Tommy Maddox

Dang it, Tommy Maddox. Dang, it. Unlike the repugnant lot that makes up this list, Tommy Maddox is a genuinely good guy. He’s been married faithfully to his wife since 1992, has a nice family, doesn’t make headlines, somehow became a good baseball coach (dude can do anything), and has a non-profit organization that helps underprivileged kids.

Maddox is a good dude and yet we mega loathe him here in Cleveland. Why? 2002, that’s why.

It was the lone year the Browns have been to the playoffs since they returned in 1999 and who did they have to face in the opening round? Maddox’s Steelers. The worst part is that the Browns were having a magical year. So many wins happened after comebacks late in the game. From Phil Dawson’s game-winner in overtime against the Titans to the Hail Mary (not-so) catch against the Jaguars, all the way to Michael Vick’s Falcons’, who the Browns beat in the final game with one of the most iconic Browns calls of all time (Run, William, run!”)

Then the Browns got into the playoffs and the Steelers were there. It felt like fate.

Maddox wasn’t going to be denied, however, and torched the Browns for 367 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns fell in a shootout, 36-33, depriving the fanbase a chance to claim a rare playoff victory over the Steelers.

Dang it, Maddox. Dang, it.

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